On the Geneva summit
Syria-USA, Politics, 3/26/2000

The Monte Carlo radio correspondent in Geneva spoke about preparations currently made in Geneva to convene the US-Syrian summit today, Sunday and news leaked on the main issues of this summit. He said that the Syrian delegation would have arrived in Geneva on Saturday afternoon amid the care of all the hosting country, Switzerland, the Syrians and Washington on the need not to be so much optimists.

The correspondent added that this care results from that President Clinton is coming to Geneva having in his pocket clear Israeli acceptance of complete withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan heights until June 4, 1967 border lines and that the US President is also to find out an integrated formula to resume the Syrian- Israeli negotiation in a way satisfactory for both sides.

The correspondent quoted diplomatic sources in Geneva as saying that time is limited before the US elections and before the declared Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon, so that time Clinton has to have some thing that pushed him to meet with President al-Assad in a summit which might be actually the last chance to achieve peace under his presidency (Clinton ).

On comments made by the Swiss dailies issued on Saturday about this summit, the correspondent said that the Swiss daily "La Turbindo Geneva" has chosen its main title "Clinton and al-Assad tomorrow in Geneva: the meeting is crucial." This paper said this meeting which is the fourth between the two Presidents will not be a mere "protocol" celebration. The paper added though President al-Assad is known for his patience, yet time is pressing if he wants to restore the Golan occupied by Israel since 33 years ." It added that the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, for his part wants to carry out his sole promise during the election in which he vowed to withdraw from South Lebanon.

The paper added that President Clinton will give the necessary US guarantees in order to sign a peace agreement with the Hebrew state, besides time is pressing for Clinton himself, who wants to crown his term of office by a great diplomatic success.

The Monte Carlo radio correspondent added that the Swiss paper Lockerbie also found that the Syrian silence draws the shades of doubts on the meeting between the two Presidents and that the Israeli foreign minister David Levy stated Israel's rejection to recognize the June 4, 1967 border lines.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad - Clinton summit in Geneva tomorrow   (3/25/2000)
  Two days before Geneva summit, Syrian military delegation in Beirut   (3/25/2000)
  Barak's concessions for making peace   (3/25/2000)

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