Syrian official speaks on the visit of Albright
Syria, Politics, 9/2/1999

The London-based al-Hayat daily said on Wednesday, quoting high ranking Syrian officials, that Damascus is waiting for the visit of US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright with great care and interest.

Replying to a question on the issue of water, which recently emerged in the statements of Israeli officials, the Syrian official said that peace has several elements and its main element is Israel's withdrawal to the June 4, 1967 border line and in the absence of this element, "Nobody will discuss any matter, and therefore the issue of water was not debated into the table yet."

The Syrian official added, "We refuse to negotiate side matters, and we cannot discuss results before discussing the substantial matter."

Replying to a question on Israel's ambitions to build an Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian market, the Syrian official said, "We in Syria have the desire to improve relations with Jordan and we feel a similar Jordanian desire." He added that there is much imagination in those who plan blocs dominated by Israel. "Such imaginations are not realistic," he added.

The Syrian official continued, "We feel in Jordan an Arab inclination and we did not feel that Jordan has an intention to be separated from the Arab world or to get into blocs with Israel."

Replying to a question on Israel's intentions towards Iraq, the Syrian official added that every side has its intention and that there are meeting points. "For us the meeting point with Israel is the withdrawal until June 4, 1967 border line and there are on the other side points of contradiction mainly Israel's attempt to impose hegemony on the region and its attempt to fail Iraq," the source said.

The Syrian official added that there is a foreign attempt aimed at partitioning Iraq, "a matter which annoys us as well as the grave consequences of the air raids against Iraq."

He said there is a sudden concentration on raising the issue of settling the Palestinian refugees in Iraq, saying that the aim behind raising this matter is to link sorting out the question of Iraq and the Palestinian refugees.

Previous Stories:
  US deal to convince Damascus returning back to negotiation table   (9/1/1999)
  American hopes pinned on Albright's trip   (9/1/1999)
  Syria to accept UN forces in the Golan following Israeli withdrawal   (9/1/1999)

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