atmosphere needed for peace, Syrian Foreign Minister
Walid Moallem said Thursday at a meeting with foreign
ministers from other Arab nations, ahead of the Arab
summit in Damascus due to commence on Saturday.
The Syrian FM claimed that unlike Syria, Israel does not
have a true political desire for peace.
In his opening speech at the meeting, Moallem said that "
the aggressive policies and actions that Israel undertakes
and which are supported unconditionally by the US create
a situation that is not conducive to achieving peace."
"Our position on peace in the Middle East is known to all,"
Moallem said. "We support a just and all-inclusive peace in
accordance with UN resolutions and based on the principal
of 'land for peace.'"
"Our position on making peace in the Middle East is clear,"
Moallem said. "We are for a just and comprehensive peace
and the principle of land for peace, but we are certain Israel.
..is still incapable of having the genuine political will for
making peace."
Moallem's comments came a day after Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert hinted at the prospect of secret talks with Syria.
"I [have] said indeed that I'm prepared to make peace
with Syria," Olmert said at a press conference with the
foreign media in Jerusalem. "I hope that the Syrians are
prepared to make peace with Israel, and I hope that the
circumstances will allow us to sit together. That doesn't
mean that when we sit together, you have to see us."
Meanwhile, the Syrian FM also urged Arabs to overcome
their differences through "objective and honest"
discussions at this weekend's summit.
The summit has been riven by deep divisions between
Arab leaders, mainly over alleged Syrian meddling in
Lebanese affairs. Lebanon has announced it is boycotting
the summit, while Egypt and Saudi Arabia have announced
they are sending only low-level officials to the gathering
in a snub to Syria.
But Moallem said that Saudi Arabia must also help solve
the political crisis in Lebanon.
"Syrian efforts alone are not enough," he said. "There
should be a combined effort by all Arab parties which
have friendships and influence in Lebanon, especially
our brothers in Saudi Arabia."
The convening of the annual summit in Damascus has
worsened the split between Syria and US-allied Arab
countries, who have been at odds with Syria over a host
of issues for the past three years.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt are particularly angry at Syria
over the political crisis in Lebanon, where they accuse
Damascus of blocking the election of a new president
through its Hizbullah allies. The United States and its
Arab allies back Lebanon's anti-Syrian government led
by Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.
Moallem appealed to Arab countries to overcome
their differences.
"We have an agenda laden with complicated problems and
hot issues ... but our differences, whatever they are, must
not overshadow what we have in common," he said. "
Through objective and honest dialogue ... we can find
effective solutions."
Moallem said Syria wanted a settlement to the Lebanese crisis.
"We are the first to lose from the escalation of the situation in
Lebanon and we will be the first to benefit from the country's
stability,' he said.
"Syria wants a Lebanon that is sovereign, independent and
stable, and anyone who thinks or wants to think otherwise
is mistaken," Moallem added.
On Wednesday, Moallem said Saniora's government in
Lebanon, by boycotting the gathering, lost a key
opportunity to discuss its political crisis and Lebanese-
Syrian relations. He said Arab leaders intended to discuss
the presidential crisis in the summit's closed-door meetings.
He stopped short of criticizing Saudi Arabia and Egypt for
not sending their leaders, telling reporters in Damascus
that "it is a sovereign decision ... Syria welcomes any
kind of representation."
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