Syrian - Israeli talks kick off in Washington
Syria-Israel-USA, Politics, 12/15/1999

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa said today in a welcoming ceremony at the White House before the beginning of peace talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak that "Peace for Syria means the return of all its occupied lands," adding that such a peace will be based on justice and international legitimacy.

He added that "We are approaching the moment of truth," al-Sharaa said, adding that reaching peace in the region means the "end of a history of wars and conflict."

He said that the conflict is over occupation and not existence and that the return of the occupied lands would end the conflict.

He said President Clinton's announcement of the resumption of talks "from the point at which they stopped in 1996" was "warmly welcomed" in Syria and the Arab world. He said that this opportunity "promises for the first time the dawn of a real hope," as the "issues have been crystallized and differences defined."

Citing talks held sporadically over the last 30 years between Syria and Israel, al-Sharaa said Syria hopes "that this will be the last resumption" of peace talks, resulting in a peace agreement.

He characterized the occasion as "a threshold of historic proportions."

Al-Sharaa also said that over the past 50 years, lack of media attention has meant that the Arabs and their suffering have been "totally ignored." He said that Syria has been portrayed as the aggressor against Israel. "These claims carry no grain of truth in them," referring to former Israeli Prime Minister Moshe Dayan's memoirs as saying that Israel provoked Syria. He added that the attention has been focused on the fate of 18000 individuals and not the half million Syrians who have been uprooted from Golan and received no world sympathy or attention.

He also spoke of what it would take to make peace between Syria and Israel lasting: "Only and honorable and just peace will be embraced by future generations."

Al-sharaa praised the efforts of President Clinton and his team for the efforts he "exerted for the resumption of peace talks from the point they broke off."

Barak said Israel is "fully aware of the opportunity" presented by the current talks. He spoke of a "burden of responsibility" and a "fierceness of determination" that will be necessary in the talks. He said Israel seeks "a better future" and asserted, "We are determined to do whatever we can."

Clinton characterized today's meeting as "a big step," adding that both sides "are prepared to get down to business." He said that peace is "vital not only to the region" but to the world and the United States, as an escalation of the situation could lead to military intervention, which would be more costly than peace.

As the ceremony ended and the three officials headed toward the opening of talks, Clinton called back to reporters, "We're going to work."

Previous Stories:
  $18 billion cost of Israeli withdrawal from the Golan   (12/14/1999)
  Simple majority for Barak in Knesset allows him to negotiate with Syria   (12/14/1999)
  On the Syrian-Israeli peace negotiations   (12/14/1999)
  Damascus accepts raising level of representation to negotiations   (12/10/1999)

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