Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Peace with Israel possible, says Syria's Assad
| International
|
My Profile
Top News
Reuters top ten news stories delivered to your inbox each day.
Subscribe
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
International
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Environment
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
Your View
The Great Debate
Blogs
Weather
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
Your View
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Peace with Israel possible, says Syria's Assad
Mon Mar 9, 2009 9:40am EDT
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
DUBAI (Reuters) - Syria President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview published on Monday that a peace deal with Israel was possible but that normal relations would only be possible if Israel ended its conflict with the Palestinians.
"There will perhaps be an embassy and formalities, but if you want peace then it has to be comprehensive. We give them the choice between comprehensive peace and a peace agreement which does not have any real value on the ground," al-Assad was quoted as saying in the United Arab Emirates daily al-Khaleej.
"There is a difference between a peace agreement and peace itself. A peace agreement is a piece of paper you sign. This does not mean trade and normal relations, or borders, or otherwise," he said.
"Our people will not accept that, especially since there are half a million Palestinians in our country whose position remains unresolved. It is impossible under these terms to have peace in the natural sense."
Syria and Israel held indirect talks last year under Turkish mediation. Talks focused on the Golan Heights which Israel captured in a 1967 Middle East war and on Syria's relationship with Iran, Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah group.
Syria is demanding that Israel commits to a withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Golan.
The indirect talks, put on hold due to the resignation of the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in September, were disrupted further after the recent Israeli war in Gaza.
U.S. Senator John Kerry, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said after a meeting with Assad in Damascus last month that Syria was prepared to resume the talks but wanted U.S. participation.
Assad said it was in the Palestinians' interests to coordinate with Damascus over its peace talks with Israel to avoid Israel putting off a resolution with the Palestinians.
"We believe that if Israel signs (a peace agreement) with Syria, Israel will put away the Palestinian question," he said.
Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel but it is often described as a cold peace since relations extend little beyond official government contacts.
(Reporting by Asma al-Sharif, editing by Andrew Hammond and Jon Boyle)
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
Yahoo!
Facebook
LinkedIn
Next Article:
Madagascar threatens action against rebel soldiers
also on reuters
Microsoft and Google are among Barron's top picks
Blog: Wildlife, water replacing oil and cattle in Texas?
From Madoff to Stanford, sleuths chase assets
More International News
Brown says killings will not stop N.Irish progress
| Video
North Korea says on full combat readiness
| Video
Tsvangirai rules out foul play in car crash
Iran says U.S. failing in Afghanistan
Hamas's popularity rises after Israel's Gaza war
More International News...
Editor's Choice
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
Buffett says economy fell off cliff
Who got AIG's bailout billions?
"Watchmen" falls short of expected box office take
EU backs IMF fund boost
U.S. healthcare system pinched by nursing shortage
AIG warned of global turmoil before rescue: report
UPDATE 2-Pressure may mount to know who got AIG bailout blns
Merck to buy Schering-Plough for $41.1 billion
UPDATE 3-Buffett says economy fell off cliff, fears inflation
BUY OR SELL-Will HSBC, the 'big elephant', dance again?
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
Soldiers shot dead in N Ireland
Thousands flee cyclone Hamish
Ex-Israel head faces rape charge
Pastor shot dead in U.S. church
Russian 'gunrunner' in Thai court
Dalai Lama 50 years in exile
For perennial test taker, a 44th try
Baghdad police attacked, many killed
Family of Morales critic 'attacked'
Indian kids love python pets
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
The Great Debate
Setback for America’s pro-Israel hawks
Bernd Debusmann
There are signs that the influence of Washington's right-wing pro-Israel lobby might be waning under the administration of President Obama. Commentary
Follow Bernd Debusmann on Twitter
Reuters Deals
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Interactive TV |
Labs |
Reuters in Second Life |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Monday, 9 March 2009 Iran test-fires new missile: media
| International
|
Tsvangirai's wife to be buried on Wednesday
| International
|
Developing world may need $700 billion: World Bank
| International
|
Madagascar soldiers mutiny, opposition head hides
| International
|
Ships idle in Philippine port as global trade slows
| International
|
Watchmen hits big time at box office
| Entertainment
|
Sudan frees Islamist opposition leader
U.S. to cut Iraq troop strength by 12,000
Sudan frees Islamist opposition leader
| International
|
Iran reportedly test-fires new missile
Tension high on Korean peninsula amid military drills
| International
|
US calls on G20 to help bolster int'l demand: report
US says 12,000 troops to leave Iraq by September
EU finance ministers to back doubling of IMF funds at G20
| International
|
China strengthens Tibet frontier to deter unrest
| International
|
GM, Canadian union agree to wage, pension freeze
Plane crashes into lake, 7 feared dead: Uganda
| International
|
Former Israeli president to be charged with rape
Obama adds senior staff to Treasury's thin ranks
Most voters want Japan opposition head to quit: poll
| International
|
Israel believes Iran can build nuclear weapons
Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai treated in Botswana after road crash
India's main opposition bloc loses key ally
| International
|
White House announces three Treasury picks
Kangaroo intruder terrorizes Aussie sleeping family
| International
|
GM reaches deal with Canadian Auto Workers
Gunman stuns US churchgoers, kills pastor
China Mobile in talks with Taiwan firms on roaming services
| Technology
|
China Mobile in talks with Taiwan firms on roaming services
Sarkozy denies Mexico is a 'failed state'
Real IRA 'claims killing of British soldiers' in N Ireland
Real IRA claims responsibility for N.Ireland killings: journalist
Watchmen falls short of expected box office take
| Entertainment
|
Ashlee Simpson-Wentz moves into Melrose Place
| Entertainment
|
Iraq war play scoops four Olivier theatre awards
| Entertainment
|
Rita Wilson joining Streep and Baldwin in movie
| Entertainment
|
Kangaroo hops into bed with startled Aussie family
Morgan, Lawrence join Chris Rock for Funeral
| Entertainment
|
NKorea threatens 'war' if satellite is shot down
Chinese state media says blasts damage police cars
Deadly violence taints China's village elections
Rita Wilson joining Streep and Baldwin in movie
China says Navy expansion "no threat to others"
Japan's Nikkei index closes at 26-year low
Protest in Tibetan area of China, police targeted: state media
Seoul shares rise led by LG Display, brokerages
Malaysian economy 'buckling' in global slump: Anwar
Asia capital losses at 9.6 trillion dollars in 2008: ADB
Pakistani troops kill 15 militants in northwest
ADB: $50 trillion wiped off world financial assets
Four children killed in Philippine fire
Japan logs record current account deficit
India looks to host the 'B and B' Games in 2010
Indian city to build toilets for transgender people: report
Hundreds halted at border after NKorea shuts phone lines
Ashlee Simpson-Wentz moves into "Melrose Place"
Korea Hot Stocks-Samsung C&T gains; Pharma shares rally
Film-maker to plan China 60th anniversary fireworks: state media
S.Korea says banks' capital ratios in better condition
Jackie Chan starts shooting historical epic
Taiwan dollar flat ahead of exports data
Morgan, Lawrence join Chris Rock for "Funeral"
Japan posts record current account deficit
Rita Wilson joining Streep and Baldwin in movie
"Watchmen" falls short of expected box office take
Obama leads birthday salute to Ted Kennedy
Iraq war play scoops four Olivier theatre awards
Dries Van Noten showcases classic winter coats
Indonesian porn law turns off folk dancers
Brown says killings will not stop N.Irish progress
| International
|
First stone laid at razed refugee camp in Lebanon
Violence flares on Pakistani border with Afghanistan
| International
|
Captured Israeli's parents set up protest camp
Peace with Israel possible, says Syria's Assad
| International
|
Rights group demands freeze on West Bank quarries
Tsvangirai rules out foul play in car crash
| International
|
World stocks spiral lower on fresh financial woes
Syria's Assad says peace with Israel possible
Obama to reverse Bush limits on stem cell research
Iraqi army called in to patch up a ruined nation
| International
|
Thai judge to end Merchant of Death hearing soon
| International
|
Nokia takes on Apple in online software arms race
| Technology
|
Palm moves to bolster capital ahead of Pre launch
| Technology
|
'Swiss Gigolo' jailed for blackmailing BMW heiress
Kirk Douglas in courageous return to spotlight
| Entertainment
|
Winehouse unable to make U.S. gig after assault case
| Entertainment
|
Western envoys see cracks in Nepal's peace process
Iraq war play scoops four Olivier theater awards
| Entertainment
|
China's Hu urges stability in Tibet
Watchmen rules overseas boxoffice
| Entertainment
|
China's Hu demands wall of stability in Tibet
Blasts rock Tibetan area as China ups security
Taiwan's detained ex-leader eyes new independence party
Hollywood image behind Berlusconi's staying power: author
Pakistan targets 100 bln rupees in T-bill auction
NKorea puts military on full combat alert
Ansaldo STS gets 220 mln euro order for Taipei metro
NKorean leader Kim re-elected to parliament
Satyam starts bidding process for 51% stake sale
Sri Lanka army: 80 rebels dead in northern battles
Taiwan exports fall for sixth straight month
Bomb kills 1 Canadian soldier in Afghanistan
France's BNP Paribas to leave Tokyo bourse
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns losing GM backing
HSBC plunges over 24 percent to near 14-year low
Russia's Eurovision song stirs criticism
New Taiwan port seen boosting tech, regional transit
'Black Watch' wins big at theater's Olivier Awards
Winehouse unable to make U.S. gig after assault case
SKorean bank seeks 300 mln dlrs overseas loans
Cast member of popular SKorean TV show found dead
S.Korea building permits skid on economic downturn
Hello I'm Kosmos: Patriotic names in Russian comeback
Hollywood image behind Berlusconi's staying power: author
Kirk Douglas in courageous return to spotlight
Art flowers again in Iraq as violence ebbs
"Watchmen" rules overseas boxoffice
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights