Al-Shara: Israel shows no concrete signs of wanting peace

Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and High Representative for European Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana held yesterday in Damascus a joint press conference.

Solana expressed his concern over the dangerous situations in the occupied territories stressing the necessity for exerting more efforts to achieve peace.

He pointed out that EU, through its membership in the Quartet Committee, is working on this framework ( peace ) calling Israel to halt the acts of killing against the Palestinians.

Concerning Iraq, Solana expressed his hope that stability will prevail in Iraq.

Answering a question about Syria's stance vis-a-vis the new Iraqi government, al-Shara underlined that our stance towards the new government is the same as the previous interim council, it is just a step.

We hope that this step will help ease the situation and improve the conditions of Iraqis.

We are ready to cooperate with it in the interest of Iraqi people, al Ð Shara added.

Answering a question about a road map that can achieve a comprehensive peace on all tracks, Solana said that the road map should be expanded in a way to tackle the Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian tracks.

Answering a question about the possibility of reviving negotiations in the near future between Syria and Israel, al-Shara said that if we suggest that the atmosphere permits the reviving of the negotiations, we will welcome this step though I don't believe that this will happen because of the Israeli attitude.

He concluded by stressing Syria's clear stance which calls for implementing relevant UN resolutions, Madrid terms of reference and land for peace formula.