On al-Shara's statements in Paris
Syria, Politics, 4/27/2000

The BBC correspondent in Paris said on the question of Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara's statements at the press conference on Wednesday in Paris, that what is new in al-Shara's statement is his rejection of the idea of the UN forces demanded by Israel in south Lebanon, as al-Shara stated that he does not want to see any one of the main states of the UN Secuity Council to be seen in South Lebanon after the expected Israeli
withdrawal.

The BBC correspondent added what is also new in al-Shara's statements is his talks about Syrian- Egyptian relations and his remarks that Egyptian participation is very important and that there is coordination between each of Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, noting that a conference for the foreign ministers of these countries will be held in May.

Replying to a question put by the BBC on how al-Shara explained the Israeli proposal to withdraw from south Lebanon, the correspondent stated, "Al-Shara has recalled in his statement the proposal made by the former Israeli Prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in 1997, a proposal which was rejected then." Al-Shara described the current Israeli proposal as a deception, noting that the Arabs and the greater states including France and the US should be mocked by this Israeli proposal.

Al-Shara also questioned the target Israel has behind offering this proposal at this very time to implement UN resolution 425.

On the content of the written message al-Shara conveyed from President al-Assad to President Chirac, the correspondent said, "Actually the message is not written. It is rather oral pertaining to Geneva summit.

The correspondent added that the important thing is that al-Shara held the US responsible for the failure of the summit, but still al-Shara says that the US has a role to play in the peace process.

The correspondent indicated that US President Bill Clinton said when he learned about what al-Shara's said of "Israel's deception" that if Clinton had known what Barak would have done, he would not have asked the Syrian president to send al-Shara to the US to negotiate with Israel.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Shara resumes visit to Paris   (4/26/2000)
  Report: Contacts to resume Syrian-Israeli negotiations   (4/26/2000)
  Al-Shara conveyed President al-Assad's message to Chirac   (4/26/2000)

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