Sharon and peace with Syria

In its Friday's issue, the Israeli daily Jerusalem Post said in an article by its editor Herb Kenon that the Israeli prime minister elect Ariel Sharon said Thursday in a message he addressed to President Bashar al-Assad that Israel wants to start negotiations with all Arab states without prior conditions and that it expects Syria to suppress Hizbullah which has started its operation not only in South Lebanon but also inside Gaza.

The Israeli paper explained the Sharon had asked the EU-ME peace process envoy Miguel Moratinos this message during their meeting on Thursday in Tel Aviv and with the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat in Gaza.

The spokesman for Moratinos Bernadrino Leone said Moratinos informed Sharon that Syria is interested in achieving peace noting that Sharon had the same opinion on Syria's commitment to peace.

The spokesman added that Sharon asked Moratinos to convey a message of " good intention " to all Arab states.

Moratinos is scheduled to visit Syria by the end of this month.