Fatchett: Britain wants Israel to comply with nuclear nonproliferation

UK Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Derek Fatchett has stressed that his government will capitalize on her turn in the EU Presidency to get the peace process moving and to help secure a durable, just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

He described his country's relations with Syria as "good" and improving at all levels, stating that the meeting between President Hafez al-Assad and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook was a "good opportunity for exchanging views on all regional issues."

In an exclusive interview granted to the chief editor of the Syrian Arabic daily Tishreen in London, Fatchett announced that his country will continue to urge Israel to "accede to the Non- Proliferation Treaty" and to "ratify the chemical weapons convention."