Syrian FM underlines US role in Middle East peace
Syria, Politics, 7/2/1998

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa has reiterated the position advocated by the Arab states regarding utilizing their full rights to restore all occupied Arab lands and national dignity.

The Syrian Foreign Minister said on Wednesday in an interview with MENA that keeping Arab pledges and commitments is the major element in confronting the anti-peace policy adopted by the Israeli government. Al-Sharaa said the Israeli government obstructs the peace process, especially on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks.

Israel, he added is, "Manipulating the Palestinian (peace) track without any positive results, trying to tie Lebanon to several conditions, through ideas such as the conditional withdrawal from south Lebanon to divert attention away from the Israeli Premier's absurd stands towards peace in the region."

The Al-Sharaa warned against the failure of the Middle East peace process in affecting the interest of the US as well as its credibility in the region. He pointed out that the US shoulders a special responsibility in its capacity as the main sponsor of the Middle East peace process.

He reiterated the need to implement resolutions taken by the Cairo Arab summit in 1996 which called for reconsideration of relations established by some Arab states with Israel because it failed to commit itself to undertakings on all tracks. Al-Sharaa' strongly denounced Israel's settlement practices in the occupied Arab lands and the expansion of the city of Jerusalem.

Concerning Syrian-Egyptian relations, al-Sharaa' underlined coordination between the two states, a matter which contributes to improving Arab conditions. He added, "Every Arab citizen is aware of the fact that issues cannot go straight except though a joint Arab action, especially on the grounds of sincere Syrian - Egyptian ties and a mutual political will with pan-Arab objectives."

The Syrian FM indicated that the interests of the Arab people in convening an Arab summit are based on what the summit is scheduled to achieve in supporting Arab solidarity against challenges imposed by the government of prime minister Netanyahu on the region.

On the Jordanian and Syrian stands towards the Arab summit, the Syrian FM added that as Arabs in their different states are affiliated to one nation and share one destiny, there should be a unified Arab stance to withstand the Israeli stances which ignore Arab rights to restore usurped rights and lands.

He asserted Syria's unswerving stand toward Jordan and all Arab states against the Israeli government's intentions to undermine Arab rights. He praised the European stand concerning the Middle East peace process.

Previous Stories:
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  Syrian, Turkish officials meet on bilateral issues in Ankara   (7/1/1998)

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