Syrian FM concludes successful visit to France
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and members of the accompanying delegation returned to Damascus on Wednesday evening after he had made a short visit to France during which he conveyed a message from President Hafez al-Assad to President Jacques Chirac. The foreign minister had talks with his French counterpart, Hubert Vedrine.
Al-Shara also met with members of the French Diplomatic Press Association, and he held a news conference.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister al-Shara described his visit to France as successful by all accounts and said that the meetings he held with French officials were frank and positive, overwhelmed by a friendly atmosphere and by a common desire by Syria and France to maintain mutual consultations.
In Wednesday's statements in Paris, al-Shara told the reporters that Syria favors the realization of a just and comprehensive peace, based on UN resolutions concerned and the land-for-peace formula. He added that, "If such a settlement is not attained, France will certainly be dissatisfied," adding that France is greater than looking for a tiny role whose consequences are not guaranteed.
The Syrian foreign minister added that France sides with a just and comprehensive Middle East peace that gives results conducive to attaining security, stability and prosperity in the region.
Al-Shara said, "Bargaining on those principles is not the lexicon of the French policy, especially under the rule of President Chirac."
Al-Shara added, "We certainly do not expect that France will make a step without conducting consultation with Syria and Lebanon," adding that there is also a treaty of cooperation and coordination between Syria and Lebanon and this treaty should be honored. He said the UN chief knows that, and he was so told by the Syrian and Lebanese officials.
Al-Shara continued: "We shall give our final and official answers towards what Israel will adopt, because we do not know what is the intention of Israel."
Al-Shara stated that if Israel wants to deceive the other it will not deceive Syria. "Israel played this game as an intrigue, believing it can delude us and demonstrating us as the party which is afraid of withdrawal or as an extremist party (resorting) to negative act or it can get an international cover," he said.
The Syrian foreign minister warned in this regard against the fact that Israel wants an "international umbrella to justify such kind of withdrawal which it will use in the future to take revenge against Syria, Lebanon and the Lebanese national resistance. We will not allow Israel to get such a regional cover."
Addressing the reporters al-Shara said: "You will contribute to disclosing what is concealed for us."
