US president pledges to support al-Assad in resuming negotiations

Syrian sources stated that US President Bill Clinton had a phone conversation with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, in which Clinton confirmed that the USA supports resuming Israeli - Syrian negotiations from the point at which they stopped after the formation of the new Israeli government.

The sources also said Clinton has undertaken to resume negotiations during his phone call with Syrian president, who for his part reiterated the Syrian government's commitment to the peace process, saying that he is ready to resume to the Syrian - Israeli negotiations that ended three years ago when outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to power.

The main point to be settled is the issue of the Syrian Golan Heights, occupied by Israel in 1967.