Syrian foreign minister confers with EU Middle East peace envoy on peace

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa on Thursday discussed with European Union Middle East process coordinator Miguel Moratinos the latest developments concerning the ME peace process in light of Israeli policy.

Emphasis was placed on the need to revitalize the European role in the peace process to salvage it from its current stalemate.

In press statements following the meeting Moratinos said his meeting with al-Sharaa was fruitful and dealt with the peace process on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks.

He added, "We are waiting for the results of the talks in Washington so we can, through consultation with the US, our partners, and sides concerned including Syria, discuss what we can do in the future."

He said he will meet on Saturday with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in London for a briefing on talks Arafat held in Washington with US President Bill Clinton.

He denied reports that he discussed with al-Sharaa proposals made by Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai about UN resolution 425, adding that his talks with al-Sharaa dealt with the situation in Lebanon and the Syrian-Israeli track.

However, in a lecture he made in Damascus at the invitation of Damascus University, Moratinos said analytical discussions will be opened between the European Union, Russia and the US following Clinton's meetings with Netanyahu and Arafat to build future steps in the region. He added the EU conception of UN resolution 425 is withdrawal, rather than redeployment.