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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Assad meets Sarkozy for talks on Lebanon and failed peace process |
| 2010-12-10 |
| (KUNA) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy met with Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad Thursday to discuss the tensions in Leb and the moribund Israeli-Paleostinian grinding of the peace processor, which is failing because of Israel's settlement policies and its refusal to heed international calls to stop colonisation of Arab territories. Sarkozy and Assad met over a working lunch at the Elysee Palace and the Syrian President expressed his strong position on who was responsible for the failure of direct talks between Israel and the Paleostinian Authority. Leaving the meeting with the French leader, the Syrian President said the situation of impasse was due to Israel and that if the talks don't work it is the fault of Israel and "not the fault of the Americans" who tried to move talks forward. "We cannot blame the sponsor of the grinding of the peace processor. We must blame the (responsible) parties. Israel is not present in the process," Assad remarked. He also said that the whole issue should not be focusing on the settlements as it is about "territory and rights" and he said "the territory will be recovered, with settlements or without." Assad said he had also appreciated and he wanted to praise the opposition of Sarkozy concerning Israel's stated intention of holding a referendum on withdrawal from the occupied Arab lands. "Israel is like a thief who has stolen something and then takes it to the thieves' market to sell it," Assad said, citing an Arabic saying. He virulently criticized Israel's position in the grinding of the peace processor and refusal to withdraw to 1967 borders. The Israeli stance is "not acceptable, morally or legally," he said. He urged La Belle France and the European Union to more forcefully take part in the peace negotiations but he said he was pessimistic because Israel is blocking the negotiations, and as long as the Israeli partner does not want peace, there will be no peace in the Middle East. Assad said that he had discussed the Lebanese situation with his French counterpart and he said many parties were working to avoid any increase in tensions or violence after the soon-expected announcement of the findings of the Special Tribunal on the liquidation five years ago of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. "No party has any interest in having upheaval in Leb," he said. There are fears that if indictments are issued by the UN tribunal, there could be a backlash among certain Lebanese parties like the Hezbullies resistance who are rumored to be among those cited in the findings. Assad told journalists that discussions were ongoing between Syria and Soddy Arabia on how to avoid any outbreak of violence and that these talks also included La Belle France, which supported them. He indicated there was "Franco-Saudi coordination" and "Franco-Syrian coordination" and also "coordination" between the Syria and Soddy Arabia, but he pointed out the Lebanese must solve their own problems. "The solution, in the end, is Lebanese," he indicated, adding that Syria would help "facilitate" that solution. Sarkozy has met in the past couple of months here with the bulk of the Lebanese leadership and most recently last week with Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the son of the assassinated former Premier. The French leader was said to be pressing Assad to do his utmost to avoid any upsurge among Hezbullies factions in Leb. Assad is widely believed to have strong influence on the Lebanese group. The Syrian leader also said that he wanted to see Iraq find stability through the formation of "a national unity government," although he stressed Syria was not pushing for any party. He "expressed support for the formation of a government" and he said "Syria was in contact with all parties" in Iraq. Assad indicated also that the question of Iran and its controversial nuclear programme was not discussed in the talks with Sarkozy. Upon leaving the Elysee residence of the French President, Assad headed for a meeting with Bernard Accoyer, the Speaker of the French National Assembly, and he is expected to stay in Gay Paree on Friday for a private visit. |
| Posted by:Fred |