Al-Assad's interview with New York Times, the Washington Post
Syria-USA, Politics, 5/13/2003

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad made an interview with the U.S. Newsweek-Washington Post's Lally Weymouth about the US Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Damascus and the prospects for peace in the Middle East.

Excerpts: On Powell's visit, the President said: There are differences in priorities between us and the U.S.... When Secretary Powell talked about the Palestinian offices, we asked him to talk about all the issues concerning our two countries in a package.... Our priority is to restore our territory, the Golan.

Concerning the closure of offices, the President replied: You use the word "closed." I talked with Mr. Powell about stopping "activities," not closures.... But doing something about the groups is related to the Golan, to resuming the peace talks on the Syrian track.

As for the stories in the Israeli press about recent meetings between a Syrian official and an Israeli about starting up peace negotiations, President al-Assad said: This is the Israeli way -- to make it appear as if Syria is working in secrecy.... Why should we create back channels? This does not give you popular support... which is very important in a peace process. Neither now nor in the future will Syria engage in secret negotiations.

Syria is for talks on the basis of U.N. resolutions, the 1991 Madrid conference and the Beirut summit initiative, the president underlined.

If you want to negotiate, you need a basis. So the basis is the Madrid conference, he added: As for war against Iraq and Syria's position towards this war, the president said: We were not close to Saddam and did not have an embassy in Baghdad. I never met him or talked with him on the phone. What you said about the oil is true. We had economic relations with Iraq. What you said about the Syrian government allowing armaments to go to Iraq is not correct. Arms were smuggled by individuals. The government had nothing to do with it....

We allowed families to come to Syria, women and children. But we were suspicious of some of the relatives -- that they had positions in the past and were responsible for killings in Syria in the '80s, the president said.

On Hizbollah, al-Assad said: We did not supply Hizbollah with weapons. They do not get arms via Syria. We give them political support because they want to get back their lands.

They have not killed anyone outside of Lebanon where their land is occupied.

Concerning the Road Map, the President said: I can talk about the concept. For the last two years, they (the Palestinians) talked about security before a political solution. But if you get a political solution that doesn't satisfy all parties, you won't have security. You should first have the political solution. We won't interfere. Our concern is the Golan.

In 1990, we took the decision for peace, the President added, saying: The Israelis do not want peace. It was not that we changed our mind about peace.

About a U.S. military action, the President said: Powell said there are no plans for U.S. military actions against Syria. Powell is the rational wing of the administration, he added.

We are working for better cooperation. Combating terrorism is evidence. We helped save the lives of Americans last year.

On pulling out of Lebanon, the President replied: This is related to a peace treaty, to a complete Israeli withdrawal.

The Israelis didn't withdraw completely. They still occupy Shebaa Farms.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Shara, Moussa discuss ME developments   (5/12/2003)
  Al-Shara -Marini discuss ME issues   (5/12/2003)
  Syrian PNF meets on conditions in Iraq, ME peace   (5/12/2003)
  To eliminate American pretexts against Syria, Palestinian groups propose closing offices   (5/8/2003)
  On Powell's visit to Syria, Lebanon   (5/5/2003)
  Briefing by Powell in Damascus today   (5/3/2003)

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