Syria denies any Russian peace initiative

The Syrian delegate at the Arab League, ambassador Eissa Darwish denied that there is a Russian initiative to resume Israeli - Syrian negotiations.

Following his meetings with Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid, Darwish said, "There is not any initiative by Russia or any other country, to resume negotiations," confirming that Syria's position is clear: the negotiations are be resumed from the point at which they stopped and to announce their approval on withdrawal to the June 4, 1967 borders.

Darwish, then, added that Israel still refuses this and adheres to occupying the Golan and establishing settlements.

Concerning the stand of Syria towards Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's adherence to proclaiming the Palestinian statehood on May 4, the Syrian ambassador said "We consider the Palestinian state as established already, yet we hope the Palestinian territories will be liberated totally from occupation so the Palestinian people can practice their legal right in its complete territory its state and its capital."