PLO official holds Israel responsible for Geneva summit's failure

The chairman of the political department at the PLO, Farouk Qaddoumi, has held Israel responsible for the failure of efforts to resume talks on the Syrian track at the Geneva summit between Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and US President Bill Clinton, as the Israeli government did not take a clear stand to abide by withdrawal from the occupied Golan to the June 4, 1967 borders.

In a statement to al-Sharq radio on Tuesday Qaddoumi said " as it is clear, the US President conveyed to President al-Assad unclear and hesitant Israeli positions concerning withdrawal from the Syrian Golan."

Qaddoumi stressed that Syria is persistent to have a just and comprehensive withdrawal, wants a clear agreement and an Israeli commitment to fully withdraw from the Golan.

He expressed his great regret in that the Israeli government has not taken a final decision to withdraw completely from the Golan, noting the increasing anti-peace trends in the coalition of the Israeli government.

Qaddoumi called on the Palestinian negotiator to the need of committing to the Palestinian national and political principles.

He described the visit of Pope John Paul II to the holy lands as very important noting that the Pope was conservative in his stances and did not give Israel any achievement it can invest while he ( the Pope) gave the Palestinians their right to the land.