Khaddam briefs Party secretaries, governors on latest developments

During the second day of the annual meetings of Syrian Baath Party branch secretaries and the governors of the 14 provinces, Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam on Wednesday gave a comprehensive political briefing in which he focused on Syria's positions regarding various Arab and regional issues.

He said the only way to test Israel's interest in achieving peace is through its willingness to resume negotiations from the point at which they broke off and to accept obligations undertaken by the previous Israeli government. "Only then the region will witness a new phase of just and comprehensive peace," Khaddam stated.

He also spoke of the problems between Iraq and the US and Syria's position tward them. He stressed Syria's interest in preserving Iraq's unity and territorial integrity as well as its rejection of using any form of force against Iraq or any Arab state.

He talked about the decision of the Israeli government to implement UN resolution 425 under conditions of ensuring security guarantees and arrangements for its allies in Antoine Lahd's South Lebanon Army to be a part of these arrangements and guarantees, and calling Lebanon to start negotiations on the implementation of this resolution.

He asked, if the Israelis seek peace, how can peace be attained with Israel's perpetuated occupation of Arab lands and its refusal to recognize Arab rights. He asked how peace can be established under the Israeli policy of expansion and Judaization.

Khaddam concluded by stressing Syria's continued national policy against "onslaughts the Arab nation's face."