Report: Syrian-US contacts to revive the Middle East peace process

The Egyptian weekly "October" said on Sunday that Syrian-US contacts have been made during the past few days with the objective to revive the Middle East peace process following the formation of the new Israeli government.

The magazine indicated the telephone call made by Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and the US President Bill Clinton.

The Egyptian magazine reviewed stages of the Syrian - Israeli negotiations, carried out in Maryland, during which Rabin agreed to withdraw to the June 4, 1967 border lines whereas certain security points remained in need of discussion as well as the question of water sources, over which Israel said that the Golan supplies it with 60% of its water needs.

The magazine added that these issues were at the forefront when negotiations between the two sides were halted.