Tripartite meeting discusses ME peace, withdrawal from south Lebanon
Syria-Syria, Politics, 5/4/2000

A three-way meeting was held on Wednesday evening in Palmyra city (Tadmor) including Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa.

Talks during the meeting dealt with current Arab conditions, the stalemate in the Middle East peace process due to the stances adopted by the Israeli government toward reaching a just and comprehensive peace in the region, the Madrid terms of reference and the land-for-peace formula.

The three Arab foreign ministers also discussed the possible Israeli withdrawal from occupied south Lebanon.

They voiced their countries' backing for Lebanon's call for the full implementation of UN resolution 425, which provides for Israel's unconditional and complete withdrawal from south Lebanon to behind the internationally-recognized borders and Lebanon's right to be compensated for the losses inflicted on the Lebanese people and infrastructure as a result of the repeated Israeli aggressions against it.

The foreign ministers also underlined the importance of Arab solidarity and revitalizing joint Arab work to protect the high interests of the Arab nation, to preserve its security in confrontating threats and challenges against its interests and security.

On Wednesday evening the Saudi foreign minister arrived in Palmyra to attend the tripartite meeting. He was welcomed by Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara, Foreign Ministry officials and the Saudi ambassador in Damascus, Baker Abdullah Bin Baker.

In an arrival statement to reporters, Prince Saud said, "We are very happy to be in Palmyra. We will mainly, in this meeting, discuss the stumbled Middle East peace process, evaluate the Arab conditions and maintain an agreement on a joint formula that will be the basis for correcting the general situation."

When asked whether he is pessimistic over what is taking place, Prince Saud said, "I, myself am an optimist. If we concentrate on the potentials of the Arab states and all other Arab foundations, there is no way for pessimism. And this is in our hands."

Replying to another question on the Saudi position towards Syria's demands in the peace process, Prince Saud added, "We are always standing with Syria, not because it has demands but because it has the right."

On another question on whether Israel's implementation of UN resolution 425 is considered a deception, the Saudi foreign minister said: "If Israel wants to withdraw from South Lebanon, let it do so. But if Israel has stated a precondition for herself that if its security will be affected, then it has the right to bombard Lebanon and threaten to destroy it, this will obstruct things and make what she says of claims on the implementation of UN resolution 425 as null and void, a precondition which will not be accepted."

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa arrived in Palmyra on Wednesday evening to attend the tripartite meeting, and he was welcomed by al-Shara, Foreign Ministry officials and the Egyptian ambassador in Damascus, Muhammad Ahmad Ismael.

In a statement to SANA and the TV, Moussa expressed his happiness to be in Palmyra which he visits for the first time and "to discuss with my brothers Farouk al-Shara and Saud al-Faisal matters of concern to the Arab nation, the peace process as well as other issues of mutual concern." He added that all these issues are important either for the situation in the Arab states, the condition of the peace process, the future of the region and that there are several important matters to be discussed.

Replying to another question, Moussa said, "We are here to make consultations on what is taking place on the Arab arena, the peace process and matters relating to Arab coordination, the tripartite coordination," adding that the agenda of this meeting is open.

Moussa was asked if he came to become acquainted with the Syrian city of Palmyra, he said, "I want to know Palmyra and all Syrian cities. We have agreed to convene each meeting in a new city in the three countries, and this time the meeting is in Palmyra."

Moussa was asked that since Israel accuses Syria of obstructing the peace process and says the ball is now in the Syrian court, what is his viewpoint and did Syria give everything possible to make the peace process a success. Moussa said: "The Syrian demand of withdrawal from its lands from the whole of the Golan is a just one," noting that this stand led to an apparent success when the Syrian side received the "deposit" of then-Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin several years ago. "Therefore," he said, "The whole matter is clear for us on the rightful Syrian position in that any settlement should be based on withdrawal until June 4, 1967 border lines, and therefore we clearly back the Syrian position."

Concerning the question of "the ball" and other newly-introduced expressions, he said, "This ball remains in the court of the one who has to withdraw from the occupied lands."

Replying to a question on the possibility of convening a Syrian, Saudi and Egyptian summit to be held in Cairo and whether this meeting in Palmyra will be an introduction for this meeting, Moussa said the summit or the Syrian- Egyptian top meetings were made and will be made at any suitable time, this week, next week or next month or at any time, as an integral part of Arab coordination.

Replying to a question on why Lebanon is not attending this meeting, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara said, "We in this tripartite ministerial meeting will deal with all for the good of Lebanon, eventually the expected Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, under the condition that this withdrawal will be complete until beyond the internationally recognized borders, and therefore the cohesion of the Syrian-Lebanese tracks will not be affected by such a withdrawal. And we will discuss in this meeting what is of concern of the Arab nation, and not only Syria, Lebanon, or Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, rather what is of concern to all of us."

Aked whether the Middle East peace process is suspended under Israeli intransigence and the unilateral withdrawal from south Lebanon, al-Shara said there is a clear Syrian stand concerning peace, a stand that backs a just and comprehensive peace. "I think that at least the Arabs know well that Israel is the one which obstructs the peace process and not Syria, because Syria is with a just and comprehensive peace settlement according to UN resolutions and the land for peace formula," he said, adding, "Therefore, (the) one who refuses peace is Israel and this can be seen in that both Syria and Lebanon propose, together, a just and comprehensive peace according to Madrid terms of reference and UN resolutions concerned. And we have stated all these for weeks, while Israel has not so far responded to this Syrian proposal."

Al-Shara was asked, "What do you want of the American peace process cosponsor?" Al-Shara replied, "We want the US Middle East peace cosponsor to be fair and honest."

Replying to another question if there are new American ideas proposed, al-Shara said, "There are unceased contacts to this effect. And we still believe that the chance is still available to comply with the requirements of peace on all fronts."

In statements he made in Cairo earlier in the day, upon heading for Syria, Moussa said that the timing of this meeting had been agreed upon and that the aim is to make consultations and coordination concerning coming steps on the situation of the peace process in the region and that an agreement will be made on setting a date for convening the ministerial meeting of the Damascus Declaration member states.

Moussa stressed the importance of Israel's complete and unconditional withdrawal from all Lebanese territories according to UN resolution 425. He also called for a just solution to the cause of Palestine and for halting the Israeli settlement policy and Israeli anti-peace maneuvers.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian, Egyptian, Saudi FMs meet today in Palmyra   (5/3/2000)
  Egypt asserts Palestinians' right to statehood   (5/1/2000)
  Report: Tripartite meeting for Syrian, Egyptian, Saudi FMs in Damascus   (4/29/2000)

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