No peace in Middle East without Syria, Annan, Primakov say
Syria-Iraq-Russia, Politics, 3/31/1998

Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the realization of peace in the Middle East is impossible without Syria.

In a joint news conference following the conclusion of their meeting on Monday in Moscow, Primakov and Annan underlined the importance of Israel's adherence to UN resolutions. The Russian foreign minister stressed the necessity of Israel's implementation of UN Security Council resolution 425, providing for Israel's full and unconditional withdrawal from south Lebanon.

Primakov expressed his conviction that Israel's position on Lebanon, and its attempt to separate the Syrian and Lebanese peace tracks are detrimental to the Middle East peace process and may pull it backward. The Russian FM stated that all Israeli attempts will become "eventually a fiasco."

Annan said Middle East peace is unattainable without the participation of Syria.

Meanwhile, during Annan's meeting with Russian President Boris Yeltsin at the Kremlin, Yeltsin underlined Russia's role in settling the Iraqi crisis.

"I especially liked it how we two played the Iraqi game," Yeltsin told Annan, who arrived in Moscow on Sunday for a two-day visit.

The UN chief said that Iraq so far has abided by the agreement. "The inspectors have been able to continue their work unimpeded and currently they are inspecting the eight presidential sites which were at the center of the controversy," Annan said.

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