Al-Sharaa expects peace agreement with Israel within a few months
Syria, Politics, 12/13/1999

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa and his Egyptian counterpart,Amr Moussa, on Sunday replied to questions asked by reporters following talks held earlier in the day on the premises of the Foreign Ministry in Damascus.

Asked how he views the atmospheres 48 hours before the start of negotiations with Israel and if he has formed a negotiating team, al-Sharaa said, "We pin importance on this round of negotiations, which will be resumed from the point where they left off. We are serious on reaching a quick result based on the UN Security Council resolutions, the land-for-peace formula and on was have been so far reached. We shall be positive in dealing with all basic topics which had not been completed in previous negotiations. As for the Syrian negotiating team, it is now under formation and you will know about it today or tomorrow."

Replying to a question on the Arab stances in supporting Syria's negotiating position al-Sharaa said: "The presence of Egypt's foreign minister, Amr Moussa, in Damascus is an important proof of Egypt's support for Syria. When Egypt backs Syria it means that the majority of the Arabs if not all of them are backing Syria's stands."

Answering a question on whether he is carrying Cairo's readiness to host the Syrian - Israeli talks after Washington, Moussa said, "If this was a desire and negotiations would move to the region, it is natural to have Egypt, which is a home for Syria, as a place for this development."

Replying to a question on his talks with the European Union's peace envoy and the role played by the EU in the peace process, al-Sharaa said: "The EU role in the peace process is important, and they made remarkable efforts during the last period. This role is complementary to that of the US. Thus I can say that President Clinton and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright have made relentless efforts in last days and weeks and greatly contributed to the resumption of talks from the point they stopped at.

"We should not forget that the US is the main sponsor for the Middle East peace besides the other sponsor, Russia. There remains Europe's significant standing and role which we expect from the European Union whether during or after the peace process."

Whether there is an Arab agreement to host the talks, al-Sharaa said the talks will be resumed in the US and in Washington or around it as the US has said.

On the Lebanese track and if it will be revitalized very soon, the Syrian FM said, "The Syrian track will be revitalized following the resumption of talks which will come next to the first round of talks in Washington. And we believe that the peace process on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks will be balanced and that coordination between the two countries is strong and continuous. We hope that we together will reach a peace agreement that results in Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon and the entire occupied Syrian Golan."

On the time schedule which President Clinton spoke about and whether there are agreements offered by other parties, al-Sharaa said, "I hear a statement made by the US President Clinton in which he says that he wants the talks to be finalized quickly so as to reach a peace agreement. And we welcome this and will help achieve it by God willing."

Al-Sharaa said: "We are going to Washington with good intention hoping that the negotiations would achieve a success. We are serious in establishing peace and shall do our best to contribute to achieve peace. We highly evaluate the US role, especially during the recent days and weeks, because President Bill Clinton and his secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, have played an important and serious role in order to have peace talks resumed from the point where they left off."

Replying to a question on whether he believes that this critical moment of resuming talks would create an opportunity for the establishment of a genuine peace between Syria and Israel al-Sharaa said: "I believe it is a very important moment in the history of the peace process. We are serious in realizing results based on what was achieved in the past. I believe that we can achieve important results in a short time. All parties have good intentions to do that. As I have already said, Syria has a good intention and Syria wants quick results," reiterating the need to have the talks resumed from the point where they broke off and based on what was reached in the past.

On whether peace could be established within the timetable i.e. during next fall, al-Sharaa said: "I believe a few months are enough to reach a peace agreement. Also in parallel with the Lebanese track since Lebanon is interested in resuming peace talks with Israel, we hope that Syria and Lebanon would reach a peace agreement with Israel as soon as possible."

On the resumption of peace talks between Syria and Israel Moussa said: "I believe that the resumption of talks between Syria and Israel is an important development. Hopefully we will be a helping element besides President Bill Clinton to be able to realize peace very soon. I believe that Syria is interested in achieving peace soon. We hope that these talks would bring about positive results. Both sides should work on the basis of what was agreed on in Madrid, land-for-peace."

Later in the day, Moussa and his companions left Damascus following a one-day visit to the country.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian minister urges Israel to keep the peace track   (12/11/1999)
  Talks between Syria and Israel to open on Wednesday, by Clinton   (12/11/1999)
  Damascus accepts raising level of representation to negotiations   (12/10/1999)

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