Syria's care to provide a success for the coming negotiations round with Israel
Syria-Israel, Politics, 1/3/2000

The BBC correspondent in Damascus on Sunday quoted Syrian sources as saying that Syria is heading for the peace negotiations with Israel with strong credibility and that it is careful to maintain great success for these talks and ensure a genuine peace in the region.

The Syrian sources did not hide the scope of difficulties that face the talks due to the sensitivity of issues to be debated, including security arrangements, water and the timetable for withdrawal.

These sources stressed that the Wye Plantation negotiations held four years ago, which resulted in Rabin's deposit, had achieved almost 80% of the peace agreement's "elements," adding that the remaining 20% need hard and redoubled efforts. The sources continued that Syria refuses discussions on what the Israeli side calls the "declaration of principles" so the peace talks will not be exposed to what had happened to the Oslo negotiations with the Palestinians.

The correspondent commented that the pending point where the negotiations will stop for long is the al-Sheikh Mount monitoring station, on which Syria refuses any Israel presence, adding that according to diplomatic sources there is a proposal according to which US experts will supervise the station as a solution to this problem.

Damascus views Washington's talks, which will last for more than one week, as a basic test for Barak's credibility and the future of the negotiations.

Previous Stories:
  Water, security experts and diplomats join the Syrian delegation to Washington talks   (12/30/1999)
  On the new Israeli settlements in the Golan   (12/30/1999)
  Al-Sharaa, Moratinos discuss Middle East peace process developments   (12/30/1999)

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