Monte Carlo report on Shepherdstown negotiations

Monte Carlo Radio's correspondent in Shepherdstown quoted on Tuesday Israeli sources as saying that the forthcoming round of negotiations on the Syrian track will be resumed in the US state of Maryland, adding that the Israeli decision maker will only convey what had taken place in the negotiations in Shepherdstown in the today's meeting of the mini Israeli Cabinet, superficially, and not in depth.

The correspondent added that the Syrian side returned to Damascus without achieving substantial progress on the level of demarcating borders with Israel, despite the fact that the Syrian side came to Shepherdstown to resume detailed talks from the point were it left off in 1996, concerning complete withdrawal from the Golan.

The correspondent indicated that despite the US document which was proposed to the US and Israeli sides, including the common matters and the pending issues, alike, the document had no American proposals to bridge the rifts and, as a result, the stances of the two sides stayed apart in regard to the question of borders and withdrawal. The correspondent commented, "And because of all that results of this round of negotiations were humble" and were limited to declaring the return of Barak, al-Sharaa and the negotiation committee on January 19.

In a similar report, the BBC correspondent to Shepherdstown said the US officials admitted that despite proposing several new ideas, no progress worthy of mentioning took place regarding fundamental issues. The BBC correspondent added that both Syrian and Israeli officials complained that the other side had not shown flexibility, adding that while Syria said it is not realistic for the Israelis to expect new security measures in the absence of a strong commitment from their side to restoring the whole of the Golan Heights, Israel says it will not hand over the Golan unless such security arrangements are made.