SYRIA: Syrian ambassador to the U.N. says the U.S. is not working towards a ceasefire in the Middle East

Record ID: 276233

  • Title: SYRIA: Syrian ambassador to the U.N. says the U.S. is not working towards a ceasefire in the Middle East
  • Date: 25th July 2006
  • Summary: (W3) LEBANON, BEIRUT (JULY 24, 2006) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DAMAGED BUILDINGS IN BEIRUT
  • Embargoed: 9th August 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: War / Fighting
  • Reuters ID: LVAAJW8BO0YA669KALZUIBAFH8U2
  • Story Text: The Syrian ambassador to the U.N. accused the United States Monday (July 24) of intentionally stalling a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict.
    Speaking to Reuters in New York, Bashar Jaafari said, "The American position now, bypasses the Israeli position, by its intransigence. So, when Kofi Annan for instance, calls for a ceasefire, the American ambassador to the U.N. says no. When the French calls for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor the American delegate says no. When Kofi Annan says Syria and Iran should be involved in the negotiations for finding out a settlement of what's going on, Mr. Bush says no."
    The United Nations is considering dispatching envoys to Syria and Iran as part of a diplomatic push to end fighting between Israel and Hizbollah.
    One diplomat said Washington's goal was to "drive a wedge" between Syria and Iran over Hizbollah.
    Syria has offered to play a constructive role, but there is no sign the Bush administration is ready to turn to a country it accuses of sponsoring terrorism and helping insurgents in Iraq.
    Israeli planes have bombed near the Syrian border and Israel has repeatedly accused Damascus of sending fresh weapons supplies to Hizbollah -- charges denied by Syrian officials.
    "The Syrian diplomacy has a priority now: the ceasefire, engaging in negotiations for the release and exchange of prisoners, the releases of all prisoners, the Israelis as well as the Arabs on the other side, Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrians," said Jaafari.
    Syria will enter the Israeli-Hizbollah conflict if Israeli ground troops enter Lebanon and approach Syria, Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal said in an interview. Jaafari supported this, saying that the Israeli aggression is on a very large scale and is not just about the capture of two soldiers. He added that Syria had a right to defend itself.
    "If we want really to make peace, that means we should give priority to the diplomatic means, not to say military troops towards Syrian and Lebanese borders. Any time we feel Israeli troops are on our borders that means we are obliged to get into action to defend ourselves. Everybody has the right to defend himself. We are not seeking military confrontation, but if we obliged to, we will enter into action, of course and we will stop the Israeli troops from reaching our borders," he said.
    U.S. secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice is currently visiting the region and is set to meet Palestinian President Abbas on Tuesday (July 25).
    Many of the issues will be discussed at an international conference in Rome on Wednesday (July 26).
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