Chirac and Khaddam on peace, bilateral relations

Following a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac, Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam told reports: "I have conveyed a message from President Assad to President Chirac concerning conditions in the region, the peace process and the responsibility of the Israeli government in obstructing it."

Khaddam added that the two countries have similar views concerning regional and bilateral relations. He continued that the current state of the peace process was discussed as well as its grave consequences for the region. Turkish-Israeli relations and this week's Mediterranean naval maneuvers between the two -- with additional US participation -- were also discussed.

Khaddam said he elaborated on the risks posed by these Israeli-Turkish relations not only for the neighboring countries, but also to world peace and security. He emphasized that such alliances would increase the risks of segregation in the region and increase instability. "No one will be the winner," he said.

Concerning Israel's acceptance of UN resolution 425, which states that Israel should withdraw from Lebanon unconditionally, Khaddam said that although Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai said he accepts this resolution, "less than one hour later the office of the Israeli Premier said that Israeli withdrawal is conditional." He noted that an unconditional Israeli withdrawal would be welcomed not only by the Arab states but also by the whole world, "However, if Israel seeks to maneuver or to reach separate solutions, she knows such maneuvers will not succeed," referring to Israeli desire to have separate negotiations with Lebanon and Israel. He added, "If the Israelis want to withdraw from South Lebanon, who is preventing or obstructing them?"

For her part, the spokeswoman for the French Presidential Palace said talks principally dealt with the peace process. She added that Khaddam believes the bottleneck in the peace process could create a grave crisis and endanger stability in the region.

"Khaddam called for a greater French and European role in the peace process," she stated. She said Khaddam has stated that Syria has backed peace and indicated the progress made five years ago, which was halted when the new Israeli government assumed office.

She added that the French President stressed to Khaddam France's continued Arab and Mediterranean policy, stating that France is maintaining very good relations with Turkey and seeks to achieve peace in the region. She said France hopes the Mediterranean will be a region of peace and stability.

She pointed out France's commitment to the resolutions of the recent Luxembourg European Summit and to the peace process, adding that the Luxembourg Summit voiced European support for the peace process, especially toward the land for peace principle and the implementation of UN resolutions.

Later in the day in two separate meetings Khaddam met with French Premier Lionel Jospin and Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, during which talks dealt with the situation in the region, the deadlocked ME peace process and bilateral relations, SANA said.

Following the meeting with Jospin, Khaddam said, "We believe that France and the EU can play an important role in fostering the ME peace process, and in putting an end to the Israeli intransigence and its attempts at establishing alliances."