USA: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER EHUD BARAK AND SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FAROUQ AL SHARA ARRIVE IN WASHINGTON FOR PEACE TALKS

Record ID: 276631

  • Title: USA: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER EHUD BARAK AND SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FAROUQ AL SHARA ARRIVE IN WASHINGTON FOR PEACE TALKS
  • Date: 14th December 1999
  • Summary: ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MARYLAND (DECEMBER 14, 1999) (REUTERS - ACCESSS ALL) 1. SV: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER EHUD BARAK STEPS OF ISRAELI AIR FORCE PLANE, WALKS DOWN STEPS 0.13 2. SLV: ISRAELI AIR FORCE PLANE 0.17 3. SV: BARAK SHAKING HANDS, ENTERS AUTOMOBILE 0.40 DULLES, VIRGINIA (DECEMBER 14, 1999) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 4. SV:
  • Embargoed: 29th December 1999 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DULLES, VIRGINIA/ ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAE27DUUKB6KELEK3463BJ628HJ
  • Story Text: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian Foreign
    Minister Farouq al-Shara arrived in Washington Tuesday evening
    (December 14), on the eve of scheduled peace talks at the
    White House.

    The talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak
    and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara will be the
    highest-level contacts between the two countries, which have
    been in a state of war since Israel's creation in 1948.

    Moments after arriving al-Shara told reporters that he
    was "optimistic" about recent statements made by Barak."Our
    country's attitude towards peace is genuine," said Shara
    during a photo opportunity with U.S.Secretary of State
    Madeleine Albright." We are serious about reaching results.We
    hope that the Israeli side reciprocate our desire for peace."
    The fate of the talks will hinge on the Golan Heights,
    a strategic northern plateau captured by Israel from Syria in
    the 1967 Middle East war.

    Syria insists that Israel should withdraw fully from
    the Golan in return for peace.Israel says the depth of a
    pullout should depend on the nature of security arrangements
    and the extent to which Syria agrees to normalise ties.

    Some 17,000 Israeli settlers live on the Golan, home to a
    similar number of Druze Arabs who remain loyal to Syria.

    The meetings will get under way at 10 a.m.(1500 GMT) when
    Barak, Shara and their delegations come to the White House for
    a trilateral meeting with Clinton, U.S.officials said.
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