Syria and Sharon

The Kuwaiti daily al-Anbaa issued on Tuesday said that Syria's evaluation of the coming phase in the Middle East after Sharon's accession to power is negative and the assessment is made on the ground of Sharon's bloody history.

The paper said that there is an integrated Syrian plan to accelerate the end of Sharon with the following main principles:

1. Clinging to the peace process as a strategic option and preparedness for the negotiations.

2. Strengthening relations with the Arab states including Iraq and with the neighboring states including Turkey besides the strategic alliance with Iran.

3. Revitalizing and escalating the Arab boycott of Israel, economically and politically.

4. Strengthening coordination and cohesion with Lebanon and the Hizbullah.

5. Rapprochement with the Palestinians, and with Yasser Arafat in particular.

The paper explained that Syria under the rule of President Bashar al-Assad is undergoing a critical test: the Israeli message in reply to opening South Lebanon's front will be sent to a main title which is President Bashar al-Assad and the messages of the new US administration to President al-Assad have started to arrive continuously including a great opposition to the Syrian- Iraqi closeness.

The paper said that the visit of the US secretary of State Colen Powel to Damascus aims basically at practicing US pressures against Syria in regard to its relations with the Iraqi regime and its support to Hizbullah. Colen's visit also aims at containing the Syrian inclination towards pushing the Arab position for tougher stances.