 LONDON - Syria is ready to open a dialogue with the United States to resolve the crisis in Lebanon, deputy foreign minister Faisal Mukdad told a British all-news television channel on Saturday.
With the conflict in the Middle East escalating, Mukdad told Sky News that Damascus was ready to talk on the condition that Washington engages on the question of Israeli occupation of neighbouring lands. “It has been Syria’s ongoing position that we are ready to have a dialogue with the United States,” he said.| "We're worried the evil Zionists are about to hit us hard." |
“The United States is not only not conducting dialogue with Syria, but it is preventing others from having a conversation and dialogue with Syria,” he added.| "We're really worried the evil Zionists are about to hit us hard." |
“We want a dialogue based on respect (and) mutual interest, without giving instructions -- and we are ready to help if the United States has the readiness to help in resolving not only this problem (the current crisis) but in resolving the overall problems.”
| "We want you to think of us as your equals, even though we aren't." |
“If we solve this problem, then what about the other problems: the ongoing Israeli occupation of Arab territoires, of Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian territories?" | "We've been keeping these problems from being solved all these years, so believe us when we say we know more about this than you." |
Mukdad continued: “We think there will be no solution to the Middle East crisis without dealing comprehensively with all these lingering problems in the region.” | I can think of a solution, but your boss ain't gonna like it ... |
Mukdad appeared on Sky News on the same day that US President George W. Bush denounced Syria and Iran for the role in the conflict in Lebanon, accusing the two nations -- both accused of supporting the militant armed Lebanese faction Hezbollah -- of posing a threat to the entire Middle East.
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