Syria and the incidents in the USA
Syria-USA, Politics, 10/4/2001

The Qatari daily al-Watan in its Tuesday's issue quoted a high ranking Syrian officials as saying that it will be wrong if Syria will not fully think of investing the developments of incidents in the US and its reflections on the Middle East in order to direct the American- International pressure on towards Israel.

The Syrian official, who asked not to be identified said in a statement to the said paper that the general conditions in the Middle East is not stable since almost one year and therefore the decision of the US to search for the real reasons leading to terrorism may mark the beginning of work for finding out a reasonable solution to the Middle East crisis.

The Syrian official expected that the US administration led by George. W. Bush to start crystallizing debating a new and integrated political initiative to resume and launch the peace process similar to that debated by his father following the war of liberating Kuwait ( from the Iraqi invasion). An initiative which launched the peace process.

For their part diplomatic sources in Damascus disclosed that the American administration has been making consultation and contacts with certain Arab sides in order to crystallize prospects of the next Arab move in the Middle East and defining steps that might lead the peace process into a comprehensive settlement in the region, noting that these contacts also cover Syria as Washington sees that Damascus is considered one of the most important regional player in the region and has to be dealt with.

The paper indicated, quoting the same western sources, the views inside the American administration calling for pressuring Syria for changing its position and giving concessions are alienated.

The sources told the paper the administration of President George. W. Bush has decided to deal with Syria, the same way President George Bush ( the father ) dealt with in 1991, expecting Damascus to get several political and economic gains because of joining the international coalition the US is currently forming especially in getting a new American recognition on the importance of its political and security role in Lebanon.

The sources said that Syria's regional role depends on its role in Lebanon, noting that it is not ruled out that Syria will get gains and financial and economic aids and loans in the framework of the orientation to lifting Syria's name from the US terrorism list.

Meantime, an Arab diplomat said that there is no reason that Syria should make use of the changes in the American policy in the Middle East, noting that the way President bashar al-Assad runs the crisis with the US and the West seems realistic and balanced.

Previous Stories:
  Bush thanks al-Assad over his position towards events in the US   (10/2/2001)
  US is not annoyed by the existence of Palestinian groups in Damascus   (9/29/2001)
  Walker commends Syria and its president   (9/27/2001)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search