Second round of Israel- Syrian peace talks open in Washington
Syria-Israel-USA, Politics, 1/4/2000

US President Bill Clinton on Monday night received Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa. Discussions dealt with the US efforts to provide success for the current round of peace talks.

In the meeting-- attended by US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, national security advisor Sandy Berger and peace process coordinator Dennis Ross-- al-Sharaa conveyed President al-Assad's greetings to President Clinton.

For his part, President Clinton asked al-Sharaa to convey his greetings to Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on the occasions of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

Earlier in the day, al-Sharaa met with Albright. The meeting was held in the framework of separate preparatory bilateral meetings made by Albright with both the Syrian and Israeli delegations to peace talks in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

SANA's reporter at Shepherdstown was told that the meeting concentrated on the most important peace elements, especially complete Israeli withdrawal from the Golan to the June 4, 1967 borders.

SANA added that the second round of talks is considered decisive because it will debate all peace elements, such as security arrangements, waters, normal peace relations and the timetable of withdrawal of the Israeli troops from the Golan.

SANA added that, "If matters go in this round to this effect, it would be expected that the Lebanese delegation will join the peace talks later on."

Earlier in the day, al-Sharaa had arrived in Shepherdstown on top of the Syrian delegation to peace talks with Israel.

The Syrian delegation includes a number of senior consultants and technicians specialized in affairs pertaining to the peace process.

Previous Stories:
  Barak: Peace means complete normalization with Syria and Lebanon   (1/3/2000)
  Water, security experts and diplomats join the Syrian delegation to Washington talks   (12/30/1999)
  EU role comes after maintaining a peace agreement between Syria and Israel   (12/28/1999)

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