Al-Sharaa conveys message from President al-Assad to Mubarak on Middle East peace
Egypt-Syria, Politics, 12/31/1999

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday received Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa who conveyed to Mubarak a message from Syrian President Hafez al-Assad relating to the Syrian stand towards the Middle East peace process, its developments and what is expected from the coming negotiations on the Syrian track which will be held in the United States.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa and the advisor for President Mubarak for political affairs, Osama El-Baz, were present at the meeting.

In a joint press conference he held with his Egyptian counterpart , Amr Moussa, following the meeting with President Mubarak, al-Sharaa said views were exchanged on the Arab condition and the importance of improving it to counter the numerous challenges in this critical phase.

Al-Sharaa stressed that stress was laid on achieving a just and comprehensive peace and on the Middle East peace process proceeding on all tracks to achieve the aspired peace, based on the international legitimacy resolutions and the land-for-peace formula.

On coordination among the peace process tracks, al-Sharaa stressed that Syria had not had at any time and since the Madrid conference a reason to violate coordination among Arab states concerned with the Middle East peace process, "On the contrary, Syria has stayed until the last moment asserting her care to maintain such cooperation."

Concerning settlements, al-Sharaa asserted the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Golan or in the West Bank or in any Arab territories, stating that these settlements constitute an obstacle against peace.

Concerning the situation on the Lebanese track, the foreign minister said that Lebanon has chosen to test the Israeli intentions through resuming negotiations between Syria and Israel.

Al-Sharaa responded to statements made by Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and the Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss as they announced that they prefer to get involved in the negotiations when they will be sure that the way has become paved and open towards achieving peace between Syria and Israel as well as between Lebanon and Israel, on the other hand. Al-Sharaa asserted that Syria has repeatedly asserted it will not sign an agreement unless it is with Lebanon and that Lebanon will not sign an agreement without Syria.

On his expectations over the coming round of negotiations on the Syrian track in Washington, al-Sharaa said the new round is considered as an extension of the previous one during which a "test will be made over the seriousness of the Israeli prime minister, he had already shown in the previous round of talks," adding that this will indicate also the extent of the Israeli side's keenness to establish a just and comprehensive peace, which Syria has committed itself to.

For his part, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa stressed that al-Sharaa's talks with President Mubarak were important, during which the two sides reviewed peace process events and inter-Arab relations.

The Egyptian foreign minister asserted continued coordination between Egypt and Syria towards various Arab issues. He said that the solid Syrian- Egyptian relations constitute a pillar for the common Arab work as well as the grounds to reach a just and comprehensive peace in the region.

Later in the evening al-Sharaa returned to Syria from Cairo.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Sharaa to visit Cairo today   (12/30/1999)
  Report: Presidents Assad, Mubarak to convene a summit   (12/18/1999)
  Moussa: Syria will not obstruct the Palestinian track   (12/15/1999)

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