Khaddam speaks of latest Middle East peace developments
In a meeting of the Syrian Baath Party's branches' secretaries and governors, Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam gave a comprehensive political review on the situation in the region and the latest Middle East peace process developments, conditions in the Arab and international arenas and Syria's "stand under the leadership of President Hafez al-Assad concerning various debated issues."
Khaddam talked about the stalled Middle East peace process. He noted the policy pursued by the current Israeli government and said that a conception of peace based on continued occupation, settlement and rejecting the terms of reference on which the peace process was built "would not lead to the realization of just and comprehensive peace in the region."
He said that the "Israeli government seeks to impose its Zionist-Israeli (expansionist) project on the Arab nation."
Khaddam asserted "Syria's commitment to the peace process and its readiness to resume negotiations from the point they broke off, after the Israeli government announces that it will abide by delegations of the previous Israeli government providing for withdrawal to the June 4, 1967 borderline and maintaining a comprehensive peace based on principles which the peace process was built and the land for peace formula."
He indicated the renewed pledge by the US government to fulfill its obligations toward the peace process and to achieve just and comprehensive peace in the region according to UN resolutions 242, 338 and 425 and implementing the US initiative which Syria ties itself to, despite its belief that Israel does not.
The Syrian vice president said, "Israel's attempt to magnify its military might and establish an alliance with Turkey aims at imposing hegemony on the Arab territories and against the Islamic nation as well as to make a split in the Arab and Islamic world." He stated that the objective of this alliance is pressuring neighboring Arab and Islamic states and plundering the natural resources in these countries.
Khaddam called for effective Arab solidarity, for Arab awareness of "enemy schemes" and for Arab planning on the level of the Arab region, accelerating its strides toward the establishment of a common Arab market, expansion of the free trade Arab zone, and getting the Arab world involved in the age of globalization through modernizing institutions, improving the Arab people's opportunities and qualifying them to become part of globalization.
Khaddam stressed that Syria "under the leadership of President Hafez al-Assad, has recognized its national responsibilities." He called for consolidating joint Arab action, in the political, economic, cultural and security areas and for recognition of the Arab rights, foremost being full liberation of the occupied Arab lands and restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
Khaddam noted the feeling of "repression in the Arab and Islamic world over Israel's aggressions and threats against the future and present of the Arab nation," a matter which needs "a comprehensive Arab revision so as to withstand challenges and international changes."