Al-Hoss hold talks in Damascus with al-Shara

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Monday in Damascus received Lebanese Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Salim al-Hoss.

The two sides exchanged views on the latest developments and the future of the Middle East peace process.

After the meeting, al-Shara and al-Hoss answered questions posed by journalists. Al-Hoss said he exchanged with al-Shara and earlier with Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro viewpoints which were identical on all issues.

Answering another question on the date of resuming negotiations between Syria and Israel, al-Shara said,"There is no date."

Replying to a question on the great danger that threatens Lebanon and the region if Israel withdraws unilaterally from Lebanon, al-Hoss said: "It is a lie. We cling to UN resolution 425, and we have been calling for its implementation since its issuance. If Israel wants to withdraw, its withdrawal must be carried out in accordance with this resolution, that is a complete unconditional withdrawal to the internationally-recognized borders."

On the same point, the Syrian foreign minister said, "Israel's dilemma must not be turned into a dilemma for Lebanon, and as a result not for Syria, as well. The issue is so simple, but Israel wants to complicate it.

"Syria and Lebanon call for a just and comprehensive settlement and for the implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, but Israel refuses. Syria and Lebanon stress that they are ready to make a peace accord with Israel if Israel withdraws completely from South Lebanon to the internationally-recognized borders, and from the occupied Syrian Golan to the June 4, 1967 border lines, but Israel refuses. Therefore we have to think of what Israel wants. Does it want to create problems? Does it want to escape its internal crisis? Or does it want to turn its dilemma and not only a Lebanese one? There are questions which must be discussed," al-Shara said.

Al-Shara added: "If they [the Israelis] are serious about peace, Syria and Lebanon are ready for that, and the Israelis have to prove that their strategic option is peace as Syria and Lebanon do."