Report from Damascus on relations with America: occupation problems in Iraq reduced the crisis
Syria-USA, Politics, 6/18/2003

The Syrian leadership has restored back its calm often known of having it the face heated developments. This however, after the storm of direct threats made by the American administration upon launching its war of Iraq and continued for three months; Threats that all American officials took part starting from President George W. Bush until the last advisor at the US Pentagon.

The telephone call made last week by the US Secretary Of State Colin Powell with the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara can be considered as an indicator on the "change" in Washington's position and the end of a phase of threats, yet despite this, it cannot eliminate the atmosphere of concern from "an administration which is not known for reason towards those who opposes its views."

Damascus does not hide its "dissatisfaction" for not being invited to Sharm Esh Sheikh summit which was held at a direct American request and for a certain American purpose which is to ensure the Arab coverage of al-Aqaba meeting, which intended to show the care of the US administration to fulfil its promises to the Palestinians to implement the Roadmap despite the announced Israeli opposition to it.

It is known that the Syrian leadership has committed to a concept that "we are not concerned with the roadmap, and the Palestinian brothers have their own right. Should they accept it, we will not oppose, and if they oppose it, we adopt their position."

Moreover, sides concerned said that Colin Powell was not obliged to contact Damascus which was not one of the guaranteeing sides in Sharm Esh Sheikh, and despite that Powell contacted Damascus and re-explained the positives of this Roadmap and Syria listened to him thoroughly and the known Syrian stand was reiterated to that " he peace process should include all sides of the conflict and that Syria and Lebanon are two involved and effective sides and there should be a Roadmap for them." However, the fear had dropped, but the concern is still continuous. However, Damascus is more comfortable.

One anonymous Syrian analysist said "the was is over.. During the war there were pretexts at any reason to expand the circle of the aggression to cover Syria.. from the issue of the Arab volunteers (fighters), to the open borders (with Iarq), to the resort of Iraqi leaderships to Syria, to smuggling certain weapons from Syria to Iraq.. However, now the fear is dropped but caution continues to exist."

It is understood that the feeling of danger escalated with the catastrophe of Baghdad's fall in that dramatic manner in contrary to all estimates.

Today, the situation is much better.. the more the Americans get involved in Iraq, they are obliged to change their tone with "us and with others who oppose the war and the occupation against Iraq."

According to estimates of official sources in Damascus, the crisis of the Americans in Iraq will be increasingly escalated. Their inability to control the situation is clear. The US President George W. Bush has proved that he is the "man of war," but he has to prove now he is the "man of peace." And this might not be smoothly attained for him in Iraq nor in Palestine. And it is important for him ( President Bush ) to pass this exam successfully before launching his campaign for a second term of office. However, time is against him.

On how the Syrian leadership views the situation in Baghdad, the Syrian side expressed satisfaction and this is because of the fact that Damascus has good relations with most faces of the Iraqi opposition, with many of them stayed some times for long periods in Damascus. However, trade relations between the two sides have been reviving. There are now Iraqi delegations coming to Syria and finalizing trade deals, at the knowledge and permission of the occupation forces which bombarded in the beginning the border and tightened its closure.

It was proven to the American occupation that the relations between the Syrians and the Iraqis are necessary and indispensable, especially in light of the deadly living and economic crisis the Iraqi people suffer under occupation The Syrian official cited the story of al-Musil experience saying " in the beginning a delegation representing the people of al-Musil went to the leadership of the occupation forces asking for help to ensure food needs. In the beginning they got strong orders not to deal with the Syrians again.. However, the occupation leaders itself once again permitted such dealing because it found that the relations between al-Musil and Syria is the only solution to achieve certain living conditions."

On threats to enforce Syria's accountability law. No Syrian official shows serious concern over this possibility. "what is in this law that they had not tried with us before? since a long time, they had placed us on the world terrorism states list, and despite that they continued to keep in touch with us. They never stopped visiting us, making consultation with us. And in certain cases asked out help."

About Lebanon and describing Syria's presence in its as occupation, "the answer is ready, our relations with Lebanon are decided with Syria and Lebanon. We are not concerned over their moves, statements and remarks on Lebanon. The most important that certain professional politicians in Lebanon will not be deceived and their calculations mislead. There is no problem for Syria in Lebanon and no danger on the remarkable relations between Syria and Lebanon."

On the attempts to link between Syria and Iran and to "warn" them over interfering in Iraq's affairs, official circles in Damascus see in that as an attempt to threaten and an indication of the "deep crisis the Americans are in following the occupation of Iraq."

Previous Stories:
  Al-Shara speaks with Powell: Israeli occupation and assassinations are the problem   (6/14/2003)
  Bush: we have spent a long time in Sharm Esh Sheikh talking about Syria   (6/6/2003)
  Al-Assad confers with US congress member   (6/2/2003)

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