Al-Assad gets a message from Bush: US vision for the region is based on Israeli ideas
Syria-USA, Politics, 10/23/2002

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad yesterday met with US Department of States Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs head, Assistant Secretary William Joseph Burns, who handed him a message from the US President George Bush.

The meeting was attended by the deputy premier and foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and the US ambassador in Damascus. Discussions dealt with the situation in the region and the threats directed against Iraq and the effect of all that on the international arena.

In this regard al-Assad made it clear to Burns that the USA, despite the fact it is the greatest force in owning all technological potentials and other means for getting accurate information, seems unable to realize the fact of the realities taking place in the region, noting that this is dangerous because it means that the US policies in the region are not relate to the real conditions as much as they are based on subjective sources, foremost being the Israeli sources.

The president also indicated that "the US talks on having a vision to found a Palestinian state is not enough unless a rapid intervention is made to halt the war of extermination launched by Sharon against the Palestinian people and to halt the series of displacing, especially as Israel, daily works to change the realities on the ground under a clear American inability to put any pressure on Israel in order to abide by international and UN resolutions." Al-Assad said that the intended Palestinian state, in this case, will be a state without people, as Israel wants it to be.

The president stressed that talks about abiding by peace is not enough unless the elements and the time table for achieving peace are set and that the US current policy towards the Arabs and Muslims only yield in anger and the escalation of problems.

Al-Assad said that the US condemnation of certain organizations will not be useful as the only serious solution is to work for ending the Israeli occupation and halting the settlement activities because people will not stay silence nor give up their rights regardless to the position of their governments. "Any thinking contrary to that is just a wasting of time," he said.

As for Iraq, the president stressed that "the US administration should enjoy wisdom because it does not know what will happen to the region following such an attack" if it will take place because "going" deep into the Iraqi sands will be more difficult for the US than drowning in the Afghani sands, and that such a grave events if started, no body will be able to suspend it or control the results.

Al-Assad said that Syria will be always committed to a just and comprehensive peace on the ground of international law. He hoped that the US administration will seek to precise information and clearer vision before taking decisions that target the fate of the region and the world, including the US itself.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian foreign ministry summons US ambassador in Damascus   (10/14/2002)
  Bush urges postponement of Congressional bill on Syria sanctions   (9/25/2002)
  Bush calls for not approving the accountability law against Syria   (9/16/2002)

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