Al-Assad receives Powell, calls on the US for a clear peace vision
Syria-USA, Politics, 4/16/2002

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Monday afternoon at the Damascus al-Shaab palace received the US secretary of state Colin Powell and members of the accompanying delegation.

The meeting was attended by the deputy premier and foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and the US ambassador in Damascus Theodore Qattouf. Discussions dealt with conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories and the efforts of the US administration in order to find out a solution to the prevailing conditions in these territories.

The president said concerning the "martyrdom" operations that these operations are a result rather than reason for what is taking place and it is an answer to the Israeli practices. Al-Assad explained that there are millions of people on the Arab and Islamic arenas who support these (martyrdom) operations, therefore condemning it would eventually have no effect and it is better to eliminate the reason and not to waste the time opposing it because the reality is stronger than views of persons or governments.

Al-Assad stressed that it is not possible to talk about the peace process now as peace can only be attained at the desire of the two sides. "The one who has the instruments of killing and has the intention to kill will continue doing so, even when it sits at the table of negotiations."

The President added what is taking place in Palestine has placed the peace process into a deadlock and if things will not be reconsidered quickly, matters will reach the point of no return back which means "we have to wait another generation."

Al-Assad continued that mere talking about peace can be only be made after the Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories and halting the massacres against the Palestinian people, and called on the US to have a clear vision for peace and to work accordingly and also to practically abide by the resolutions approved by the international community.

Powell arrived in Damascus on Monday afternoon and was received at the Damascus's airport by the foreign minister Farouk al- Shara and high ranking foreign ministry officials.

In an arrival statement to SANA, Powell said he will hold during this visit talks with President Bashar al-Assad and al-Shara on the situation in the region in order to exchange views as well as to brief them on the efforts he has made to "end the violence, and open the way before negotiations and to hear from the Syrian officials their evaluation and their view point." He said that the discussions will also deal with the situation on the Lebanese borders.

Powell left Damascus following a short visit. He was seen off by the deputy foreign minister walid al-Muallim, several high ranking foreign ministry officials and the and the US ambassador in Damascus.

Previous Stories:
  Powell in Damascus   (4/15/2002)
  Al-Assad gets a message from President Bush   (4/13/2002)
  Al-Assad calls for actual peace, not peace on papers   (4/5/2002)

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