SYRIA: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband says he has used a visit to Syria to push for comprehensive peace in the region

Record ID: 279748

  • Title: SYRIA: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband says he has used a visit to Syria to push for comprehensive peace in the region
  • Date: 19th November 2008
  • Summary: (W3) DAMASCUS, SYRIA (NOVEMBER 18, 2008) (REUTERS): BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID MILIBAND AND HIS SYRIAN COUNTERPART, WALID AL-MOUALEM, ARRIVING AT THE SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY VARIOUS OF THE MEETING BETWEEN BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID MILIBAND AND HIS SYRIAN COUNTERPART WALID AL-MOUALEM BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID MILIBAND ARRIVING WITH HIS SYRIAN COUNTERPART W
  • Embargoed: 4th December 2008 12:00
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  • Story Text: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Tuesday (November 18) his talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad focused on ways of achieving a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

    "This vision of a comprehensive peace and what it means has been at the heart of the discussions that I held with the president today and it is a vision which can unite Syria and United Kingdom", said Miliband.
    Miliband, whose talks in Damascus are the first by a British foreign secretary since 2000, said that 2009 would be "an important year" in the region.

    "Now we all have choices to make about how we fulfil our responsibilities in achieving that comprehensive peace," Miliband told a news conference in Damascus after talks with Assad.
    Relations between the West and Damascus have been strained by U.S.
    accusations that Syria has turned a blind eye to Islamist fighters infiltrating Iraq, but diplomatic contacts between Europe -- notably France and Britain -- and Damascus have increased in recent months.
    Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem said the talks laid down the foundation for strong ties between the two countries.
    Miliband said Syria had a choice about which path to take in terms of playing a part in stabilising the Middle East.

    "This is a region of great conflict but also great history and it's very important that those with power in the region exercise it with great responsibility," Miliband added.
    The outgoing U.S. administration imposed sanctions on Syria in 2004 for its support of Palestinian Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah Shi'ite movement. The European Union has also been urging Damascus to end its support for Hezbollah.
    Syria and Israel have been engaged in Turkish-mediated peace talks, but those were suspended about two months ago after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigned over a corruption scandal.
    Key to the talks is the fate of the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed -- a move unanimously rejected as null by the United Nations Security Council.
    The Jewish state now wants Syria to weaken its alliance with Iran and cut support for Hezbollah and Hamas to make progress towards a deal. Syria has said Israel has no right to set conditions.
    Asked whether Syria would change its relationship with Hezbollah and Hamas, Moualem said:
    "Our relationship with Hezbollah is the same as with Amal movement and the same as with all other national Lebanese forces that we care they last... I think your question could be answered when a just and comprehensive peace is achieved."
    Miliband, whose Middle East trip has included talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, toured the old city of Damascus on Monday (November 17) and visited the great mosque of Omayyades.
    He told reporters: "People in the streets wanted to talk not just about politics but also about football... There were not enough Arsenal supporters and too many Manchester United supporters for my taste".
    After leaving Syria Miliband is scheduled to meet with Lebanese leaders in Beirut.
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