Syria urges Albright to push the peace process forward

Syrian Minister of Labor Ali Khalil asked the Israeli government to resume peace negotiations from their halting point three years ago.

Khalil said that U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright must carry in her coming visit to the Middle East clear plans to implement what was previously agreed upon, adding that there must be a clear Israeli draft for withdrawal from the Syrian Golan Heights to the June 4, 1967 borders.

He added, "The ball now is in the Israeli court," emphasizing the importance of the Israeli government adopting a serious and correct initiative for restarting the Middle East peace process, adding that the current government has not taken a good initiative toward resuming the negotiations.