Al-Sharaa: Syria will not return back to negotiations without clear pledge to Golan withdrawal
Syria-Israel, Politics, 1/28/2000

The Foreign minister Farouk al-Shara on Thursday met with members of the annual conference of the Arab Writers Union ( AWU), where he gave a comprehensive political review in which he dealt with developments in the region, the Middle East peace process developments since Madrid conference until the resumption of talks on the Syrian track in Shepherds town in West Virginia, USA.

Al-Sharaa stressed Syria's commitment to the peace process to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region according to international legitimacy resolutions and the land for peace formula.

He added that Syria has accepted the resumption of talks on the Syrian- Israeli track from the point they left off and its conception for withdrawal is that to be complete and until June 4, 1967 border lines and that after the establishment of peace no trace will be left for the occupation.

In his debate, the foreign minister reviewed the history of the Arab-Zionist conflict in the region, noting that the Arab national project aims at achieving the right and justice, while the Zionist project seeks to imposing hegemony on the region. Al-Sharaa added that if the Israelis are not ready to return back all occupied Arab territories to their legitimate owners, they, therefore, send a message to the world that the conflict in the region is that of existence rather than a border conflict and in this case Israel will be responsible for the result.

Al-Sharaa said that Syria is still strong with its president, people and potentials and will never give up its rights and demands regardless to pressures.

He called for Arab solidarity saying the Arab states more than any time ago is in need of consolidating its solidarity and unity of its ranks, building the common Arab market in the frame of which to withstand the after-peace phase, if such a peace is attained.

In conclusion of his debate Al-Sharaa answered questions put by the audience. He stressed that Syria will not come back to the negotiations in Shepherds town, especially after the Israeli government has failed to confirm its peaceful intention, only after having a clear commitment on complete Israeli withdrawal until June 4, 1967 border line and a meeting for the border committee on this ground ( of complete withdrawal) and this committee to be the first to meet among other committees.

Previous Stories:
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