Damascus: Israel's set conditions for withdrawal from South Lebanon, totally ends the Syrian peace file
Syria, Politics, 10/26/1999

Well-informed Syrian sources said on Monday that the conditions Israel tries to impose in order to make its "alleged" withdrawal from south Lebanon mean the total closure of the Syrian peace file.

In its commentary on the recent Israeli statements that Israel will unilaterally withdraw from south Lebanon, if it will not be able to hold a peace agreement with Syria, the Syrian sources told the Lebanese daily al-Nahar that, "Despite the fact that Israel is not serious in maintaining unilateral withdrawal from south Lebanon, it talks about such a withdrawal, and by forcing Lebanon to ensure calm on its northern state without any peace arrangement derived from a peace agreement together with giving signals of attacking the Lebanese infrastructure if its (Israel) north is hit. In another word, all these mean totally closing the Syrian file and keeping a blind eye towards the question of the Golan."

The Syrian sources said that what has been repeated by Israel is "the most dangerous attempt for dismembering the Syria and Lebanese tracks." The Syrian sources repeated Damascus' stand that, Syria and Lebanon welcome the withdrawal of the Israeli forces, unconditionally, according to UN resolution 425.

The Syrian sources asserted that Israel "cannot guarantee calm without having a peace agreement, especially as Israel has experienced the May 17 accord with Lebanon."

The sources said that "Damascus has not yet received any official signal from Washington" concerning a possible visit by the US President to the region, stressing that Damascus continues to welcome the US efforts in the peace process, especially as Syria is not "standing as an obstacle in maintaining peace or in eliminating the US efforts in this regard."

The Syrian sources added, "If such a visit by the US president is made, it will be considered a completion of contacts previously held between him and President al-Assad and as an assertion on the US President's desire and his administration's interest to continue the peace process according to the foundations on the ground of which the Middle East peace process was built."

The sources added that the US investing its weight in the Middle East peace process has become a drastic need in light of "the short time left for the next US administration over a nearby presidential election."

The Syrian sources stressed that peace with Syria perpetuates stability in the region and viewed "the Oslo summit in Norway as a new impetus for the Oslo terms of reference at the expense of Madrid terms of reference and an attempt to re-inject blood into Oslo," which had provide futile.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian defense minister: The Golan will eventually be restored   (10/22/1999)
  Former US diplomat: Syria will not sign peace agreement that does not provide for restoring the whole Golan   (10/21/1999)
  Mandela: President al-Assad is determined to make peace   (10/19/1999)

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