Syrian envoy to US calls for end of “state of war” with Israel
Washington, 28 July (IranVNC)—Syria’s Ambassador to the U.S. called for an end to the “state of war” between his country and Israel in remarks he made today in an interview in Washington with an American organization affiliated with Israel’s Peace Now movement.
By: IranVNC
Published: Monday, July 28, 2008
10:37GMT—6:37AM/EST
SYRIA – ISRAEL – DIPLOMACY
Washington, 28 July (IranVNC)—Syria’s Ambassador to the U.S. called for an end to the “state of war” between his country and Israel in remarks he made today in an interview in Washington with an American organization affiliated with Israel’s Peace Now movement.
“Here’s the grand offer: Let us sit together, let us make peace, let us end once and for all the state of war,” Syrian Ambassador Imad Mustafa said in the interview with Ori Nir, spokesperson for Americans for Peace Now.
Mustafa did make it clear that a peace agreement would depend on Israel’s withdrawal from the Golan Heights, which was annexed by Israel in 1981 and is currently home to nearly 20,000 Jewish settlers.
Israel has demanded that Syria suspend its close relations with Iran as well as to cut its ties to the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, and Lebanese militia, Hezbollah.
Israeli diplomatic circles were cool in their response to Mustafa’s remarks, “We have heard this type of thing from the Syrian ambassadors before in places like Washington and London,” an Israeli official told the Jerusalem Post. “But why doesn’t Syria’s ambassador in Cairo say the same thing? . . . They are speaking to their audience in the West, giving them what they want to hear. They are not speaking to us,” the official added.
However, when Nir was asked why the Ambassador spoke to an American organization and not directly to Israelis, he explained the Syrians believe speaking directly to the Israeli media should come after a successful peace agreement has been signed, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The Ambassador’s remarks were made on the heels of indirect talks between Syria and Israel through Turkish mediation that have been taking place since May. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said just two weeks ago that he seeks to establish “normal” relations with Israel if a peace deal is reached, reports AFP.
A fourth round of talks is scheduled this week in Turkey.
Sources: Americans for Peace Now website, Agence France-Presse, Jerusalem Post
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