Syria is keen to achieve peace, expert says

The Israeli paper Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday that Murhaf Jweijati, an expert in Syrian affairs and a scientist at the Middle East Institute in Washington, described press reports which indicate "toughness" in the Syrian position concerning the peace talks as incorrect.

Jweijati was quoted as saying, "What I have heard continuously in Damascus is that they (the Syrians) are desirous to revive negotiations, as Syria is very concerned with the establishment of peace with Israel."

He proceeded that if Israel agrees to withdrawal from the Golan to the June 4, 1967 border lines, then Syria will be ready to accept the presence of an Israeli embassy in Damascus and security arrangements.

Jweijati questioned whether the American- Israeli description of the Clinton- Barak meeting as concentrating on the Palestinians was means to pressure Syrian President Hafez al-Assad to push him to return to the negotiating table.

He added, "For President al-Assad the precedent shows that al-Assad is subjected to pressure, and nothing indicates he will be frightened."