Al-Assad: Barak is strong, sincere and wants peace; Barak: Durable peace with an agreement with Syria
Syria-Israel, Politics, 6/24/1999

Renowned British journalist Patrick Seale who specializes in Middle East affairs, especially the Syria arena, visited Israel several days ago at the invitation of the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University.

During his visit, Seale delivered two lectures, including one with Eitimar Rabinovich, who headed the Israeli negotiation team with Damascus. Seale also met with Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak and several of his high-ranking aides, as well as Israeli political leaders including Israeli President Ezer Weizman, former Israeli prime ministers Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir and several leaders of the Palestinian Authority.

Seale also visited the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, accompanied by the reserve Gen. Ori Sagi, the former chief of the Israeli intelligence.

Upon arriving back from Israel to London, Seale headed for Damascus. On his meeting with Barak, Seale told the London-based al-Hayat daily in its Wednesday issue that Barak said, "I am really eager to know if there is a possibility to have the peace of the braves with Syria."

Barak added, according to Seale, "The only way to build a durable and comprehensive peace in the Middle east region is through maintaining an agreement with Syria. This is the cornerstone for peace. My policy is based on consolidating Israel's security through putting an end to the conflict with Syria."

Barak continued: "Doubtless, President Hafez al-Assad has given the Syrian nation its current formula. He could build a strong, independent and confident Syria. I think that Syria is of great importance for the stability of the Middle East. I view Syria as a main pillar facing us on the other side of the region."

Seale said in his statement to al-Hayat, "Regrettably, I cannot convey in full what I had talked about with Barak, as he explained to me he is still in the process of forming a coalition government and he has not officially assumed power. Therefore he is not in the position to make a political initiative."

Seale said that several days later he was received by Syrian President Hafez al-Assad in Damascus, saying, "I immediately realized the fears concerning his health conditions are baseless."

Asked if he wants peace, Al-Assad said, "Syria has been always with peace. We want it now, we had wanted it for a very long time. Eventually since the beginning of the Madrid conference in 1991." Al-Assad added Israel now has "a genuine keenness for peace."

The Syrian president also gave an assessment of Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak: "I have followed up what he has achieved of progress in his work and statements. he seems a strong and sincere man. As revealed by results of the elections, he [Barak] enjoys a wide backing. It is clear he wants to achieve peace with Syria. He is moving forward skillfully."

Asked about the beginning of negotiations, Al-Assad replied: "We have been taking part in the Middle East peace process for years. The matter is not relating to starting a new thing, rather, now as Netanyahu left, the matter related to resuming negotiations on the ground of what was achieved. We have realized since the very moment when Netanyahu was elected [in 1996], that the situation was futile. Nothing would have been done with that man. Lots of people came to meet us, carrying proposals for help. Many of them were close to him [Netanyahu], other were against his policy. After a while we told them do not waste your time. There are extremists there [in Israel], who if they could they would have burnt the mountain."

President al-Assad added, "The situation is totally different now. There is a leader that may, as I feel, achieve what he decides to do."

Al-Assad said US President Bill Clinton "is a real advocate for peace. In his first term of office he was very active concerning peace. Later conditions did not permit him to propose more. I think he will move now."

On how negotiations should start, Al-Assad said: "We are dealing with a very big issue, the question of peace. This, however, requires great care and preciseness. We do not have to get ourselves involved in minor issues. We cannot say more than that unless the Middle East peace moves forward. If I say more at the meantime it will not be in our interests nor in the interests of Barak," Al-Hayat reported.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian-Israeli negotiations to resume by the end of this summer   (6/21/1999)
  A US work paper and the ME peace negotiations   (6/19/1999)
  Barak ready to negotiate with Syria following formation of new government   (6/18/1999)
  On Patrick Seale's visit to Israel   (6/11/1999)

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