April 14, 2005
FOLLOW THE PALESTINIAN MODEL:
Syria willing to try for peace with Israel (Daily Star, April 15, 2005)
Syria reiterated its desire to resume peace talks with Israel, with Defense Minister Hassan Turkmani saying his government seeks a settlement that gives each side its rights.His comments came as Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer wrapped up a two-day state trip to Damascus and stressed the need for Syria to pull all its forces out of Lebanon.
In a speech to graduates of the Supreme Military Academy in Damascus, General Turkmani said: "Syria will extend the hand of constructive cooperation to reach a just and comprehensive peace that gives each side its rights."
The speech was carried by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), which did not make clear whether Turkmani named Israel, a state with which Syria considers itself to be at war.
Syrian Cabinet ministers avoid the word "Israel" in their speeches, referring instead to "the enemy."
First democracy, then a deal. Posted by Orrin Judd at April 14, 2005 7:35 PM
Not willing to trust the word of one man ... who happens to be an autocrat? How uncharitable of you.
Posted by: ghostcat at April 14, 2005 8:23 PMi don't know, but i really have hopes that baby assad is not playing the usual bait-and-switch game and really sees that he has to change syria to stay in charge. the other capos have to know that "staying the course" benefits only the iceberg. time will tell.
Posted by: cjm at April 14, 2005 9:24 PMJust hang tough and let Syria become the new Lebanon, with all its various groups killing each other. The fewer Syrians in the world, the better off the rest of us are.
Posted by: bart at April 14, 2005 10:34 PM