Lebanese president confers with al-Sharaa
Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 12/21/1999

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud ment on Monday in Beirut's Baabda palace with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa.

The meeting was attended by Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss and Deputy Premier and Minister of the Interior Michel Murr.

Al-Sharaa arrived in Beirut earlier in the day.

In statements to reporters following his meeting with President Lahoud, al-Sharaa said: "I conveyed President Hafez al-Assad's message to President Lahoud. The message is connected with the results of the Syrian-Israeli peace negotiations in Washington. Views were identical with the Lebanese brothers. As you know there is a treaty of cooperation, coordination and fraternity between Syria and Lebanon, especially coordination on basic issues of common concern."

Al-Sharaa added, "In this connection, I would like to point out that Syria refused to talk on behalf of Lebanon, which is a sovereign country that has a negotiating team of its own. We support the Lebanese stand during and after negotiations."

Al-Sharaa said that Syrian President Hafez al-Assad sent a message to US President Bill Clinton, stressing that there is a commitment between Syria and Lebanon to the effect that the former will not sign a peace agreement with Israel until after the latter does so and vice versa. Al-Sharaa stated, "In this context, we expect that Lebanon will soon join the Washington negotiations, namely after the second round of talks due to be held on January 3rd."

Replying to a question on whether this means a separation between the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and if Syria is asked to stop resistance operations against Israel in south Lebanon, the Syrian foreign minister said: "We cannot help separate the two tracks and refuse any attempts made to divide the tracks. We are one track and share common destiny.

"This is something, and to make Lebanon negotiate on basic issues connected with peace is something else. And this does not mean separation of tracks. During negotiations between two equal tracks, one Lebanese-Israeli and the other Syrian-Israeli there will be an incessant coordination between Syria and Lebanon."

As for the Lebanese resistance al- Sharaa said, "The question belongs to Lebanon, and it is Lebanon which talks about this issue. Syria supports Lebanon, understands the role of the resistance in Lebanon and comprehends the key role played by Lebanon as a country which waged the struggle to defend its rights against the Israeli occupation. The role Lebanon had played is an object of appreciation by the Syrians in particular and the Arab people in general."

Answering another question on whether the Israelis asked for Syria's pullout of Lebanon with Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon, the Syrian foreign minister said: "They have no right to demand so, and we did not hear from them anything about this matter."

On the recent Israeli bombardment of the Arab Salim school al-Sharaa said, "When we heard the bad news, we informed the Americans about our strong indignation. The Americans immediately expressed their regret and informed the Israeli side which in turn deplored what had happened and issued a statement, accordingly."

On the talks made by the Israeli premier about normalization and security before pulling out of the Golan, al-Sharaa said, "Peace elements are known. They are first: Israel's pullback from the Golan to pre 1967 lines and its withdrawal from South Lebanon to the internationally-recognized borders. Second: balanced security arrangements. Third: the nature of ties between the two parties in terms of a peace agreement. Fourth: the timetable for implementing this agreement.

"There might be another element connected with waters when each party is given its own rights in line with provisions of the international law."

On the extent of optimism he feels following the resumption of the Syrian-Israeli negotiations al-Sharaa said, "I can talk about the seriousness of Premier Barak as we felt during the two-day negotiations last week. But I cannot talk about optimism at the same degree. During the forthcoming round, we will experience this seriousness through tangible things and through the committees that will be formed."

At the conclusion of the press conference the foreign minister expressed his thanks to the Lebanese media which had followed up on the Washington negotiations and realized the real meanings of the Syrian position which clings fast to international legitimacy resolutions and to UN resolutions.

Later in the day, al-Sharaa returned to Damascus following his several-hour visit to Beirut.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad briefs Lahoud on developments concerning resumption of peace talks   (12/10/1999)
  Telephone call between Lahoud, al-Assad on resuming negotiations   (12/9/1999)
  Syria, Lebanon to facilitate border crossing measures   (11/24/1999)

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