Syria wants more Israel talks:Kerry
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 06, 2009 00:00
WASHINGTON - A prominent U.S. senator said Wednesday that Syrian President Basher Assad told him last month in Damascus that Syria is prepared to resume peace negotiations with Israel and embrace a 2000 Arab initiative offering peace in exchange for territory captured from the Arabs in the 1967 Mideast war.
"Syria would like direct American participation in these peace talks," said Sen. John Kerry.
Reversing the Bush administration's dismissive stance on Syria, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced Tuesday during a visit to Israel she would send two senior officials to Damascus this week.
Endorsing President Barack Obama's decision to dispatch the U.S. envoys to Damascus, Kerry said Assad is looking past Iran to improved relations with the West. Kerry said that Assad "told me recently in Damascus he is prepared to resume peace negotiations with Israel and embrace the Arab Peace Initiative once again."
Kerry warned that Syria will "still try to play both sides of the fence for as long as it can." Kerry said he believes Assad understands its "long-term interests lie not with Iran but with its Sunni neighbors and the West." Kerry also said Wednesday that the U.S. should act on Assad's interest in direct U.S. participation in peace talks with Israel.
Reversing the Bush administration's dismissive stance on Syria, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced Tuesday during a visit to Israel she would send two senior officials to Damascus this week.
Endorsing President Barack Obama's decision to dispatch the U.S. envoys to Damascus, Kerry said Assad is looking past Iran to improved relations with the West. Kerry said that Assad "told me recently in Damascus he is prepared to resume peace negotiations with Israel and embrace the Arab Peace Initiative once again."
Kerry warned that Syria will "still try to play both sides of the fence for as long as it can." Kerry said he believes Assad understands its "long-term interests lie not with Iran but with its Sunni neighbors and the West." Kerry also said Wednesday that the U.S. should act on Assad's interest in direct U.S. participation in peace talks with Israel.