Masalha statements on peace process

Israel's deputy foreign minister Nawaf Masalha, who attended the conference of the foreign ministers of the states of the European Union and the Mediterranean in Barcelona, said he had met on the sideline of the conference with the Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara, for one hour.

In an interview with the Israeli radio on Monday morning, Masalha described al-Shara as very moderate concerning the peace process.

Masalha added that al-Shara in short, explained the Syrian position towards this issue and also explained the Lebanese economic condition under the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and the possibility of helping it. He added that his meeting with al-Shara was at the presence of the foreign ministers of Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia as well and other several foreign ministers of European states.

Masalha indicated that the Arab states' foreign ministers expressed their happiness concerning the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon and talked about this issue very positively. They expressed their hope in completing the peace process with the Palestinians and with each of Syria and Lebanon.