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Last update - 01:44 13/07/2008 Sarkozy asks Syria to help resolve Iran nuclear crisis By News Agencies Tags: Iran, Israel, Assad, Syria PARIS - French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday asked Syrian President Bashar Assad to help resolve the crisis over Iran's nuclear program by persuading Tehran to cooperate with the international community. Syria and Iran have good relations, but Assad expressed doubt that his intervention could help. At a joint news conference following a meeting between the two leaders in Paris on Saturday, Sarkozy said he had asked Assad to convince Iran to show proof of its intentions. Advertisement The international community has asked Tehran to stop enriching uranium, which can be used to make nuclear weapons. The United Nations has imposed sanctions on Tehran for failing to stop. But Iran insists its nuclear program is for civilian, peaceful use. The West most recently offered a package of incentives to persuade Iran to comply. Assad said that we will transmit the request from France to Tehran. However, he reiterated the Syrian position: that Iran has no intention of developing nuclear arms. "I was very frank [with Sarkozy]," Assad said at the news conference a day before a one-day summit of 43 European and Mediterranean nations, adding that "we cannot talk about something that we know nothing about." "What interests us," Assad went on to say, "is to find a political solution. ... We want to see the Middle East region free of all arms of mass destruction." The Syrian president also addressed the indirect peace talks underway between his country and Israel, saying that he did not expect direct talks to begin until U.S. President George W. Bush leaves office next January. Assad said he wanted France to play a role in any eventual face-to-face talks with Israel, but added it was essential for the United States to also be present. "Quite frankly, this American administration is not interested in the peace process, so the question [of direct talks] won't arise before the arrival of a new American administration," Assad told the news conference. Syria launched indirect peace talks with Israel this year under Turkish mediation over the return of the Golan Heights captured by Israel in 1967. The last direct talks between Israel and Syria under U.S. sponsorship broke down eight years ago and Washington has been reluctant to re-engage with Damascus because of its role in Lebanon and close ties with Iran. U.S. State Department spokesman Rob McInturff said on Saturday it was not ready to resume full contacts with Syria. "We, along with the international community, are awaiting a signal that the Syrians are truly ready to renounce their sponsorship of terrorism and do more to end the flow of foreign fighters to Iraq, expel the leadership of Palestinian terrorist groups from Syria and human rights violations," he said. Meanwhile Saturday, the leaders of Syria and Lebanon agreed to normalize their fraught relations on the eve of the Union Mediterranean summit. Assad, basking in a diplomatic rehabilitation in Europe three years after he was frozen out over the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, confirmed that the two countries planned to open embassies in each other's capital for the first time. Speaking alongside Sarkozy and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Assad said "we can say that Lebanon has moved from being a zone of turbulence, a war zone, to a more pacified zone when the Lebanese, and only the Lebanese, have the right to determine their own future." Sarkozy called Assad's announcement of diplomatic relations with Beirut "absolutely historic" and a great step forward for Lebanon, a former French protectorate, but he acknowledged that some legal issues remained to be resolved. Related articles: Assad: Direct talks with Israel only after Bush leaves office Assad: Olmert can't make commitments needed for peace Olmert, Assad to sit together at Med summit, handshake or not Bookmark to del.icio.us   Hezbollah abduction How the Lebanese militia captured two IDF reservists in 2006, illustrated in pictures. Kuntar's crimes Israeli YouTube video details the 1979 terror attack perpetrated by Samir Kuntar.   1.   IN ESSENCE ASSAD IS SAYING;US NOT INTERESTED BECAUSE ASSAD HAS.. 23:02  |  glenna 12/07/08   2.   Syria not interested in peace either, just in Lebanon 23:39  |  Tulip 12/07/08   3.   THE ONLY THING HE IS INTERESTED IN ASSAD HAS ALREADY STATED:GOLAN 01:27  |  glenna 13/07/08   4.   EU-Mediterranean Summit Is A Sarkosy Agenda & Not A News Agency 01:28  |  Joseph.E 13/07/08   5.   Peace with Syria 02:03  |  Great White North 13/07/08   6.   SARKOZY HAVING A GOOD TIME.. 02:53  |  Andreas 13/07/08   7.   Syria help resolve Irainian nuclear crises 02:57  |  Woody 13/07/08   8.   Syria wants Golan. Period. 03:06  |  Stephen. 13/07/08   9.   Syria help resolve Irainian nuclear crises 03:16  |  Woody 13/07/08   10.   There is no "Iran nuclear crises" 04:18  |  Tom Clark 13/07/08   11.   no kidding 04:32  |  Harry 13/07/08   12.   To Andreas(6) from Norway 04:33  |  Magnus K. 13/07/08   13.   Syria a vassal of Iran has no influence on its boss. 07:11  |  Jean Van Daem 13/07/08   14.   Nuclear Crises 08:33  |  Woody 13/07/08   15.   The nuclear crisis of Woody 10:31  |  Tulip 13/07/08   16.   When seeing Assad I always wonder why a person 17:42  |  Jew- and Bookburner 13/07/08   17.   Keep the Golan, Give Assad Iran 13:31  |  Murray the Mongoose 14/07/08   18.   Woody Nuclear crisis? 18:30  |  American in NY 14/07/08   19.   ASKING ASSAD TO HELP RESOLVE NUKE CRISIS IS LIKE SAYING FOR HIM 18:14  |  glenna 15/07/08

Read & React Olmert's team now questioning Talansky over 'cash envelopes' Responses: 4 Zvi Bar'el: It took 2 years, but Nasrallah kept promise to free Kuntar Responses: 12 Ex-envoy to South Africa: Calling Israel apartheid insults victims of that regime Send response Thousands gather to bury abducted soldier Ehud Goldwasser Send response Rosner's Domain Why does Israel keep agreeing to prisoner swaps? Talansky threatened to use a bomb - a long time ago (WTR) The new 'Obama advisor' problem: Senator Chuck Hagel Attacking Iran to get the world's attention? More Headlines 10:07 Thousands gather to bury abducted soldier Ehud Goldwasser 09:40 Olmert's team now questioning Talansky over 'cash envelopes' 08:23 After swap, Israel fears Hezbollah will escalate tensions in North 09:50 ANALYSIS / It took 2 years, but Nasrallah kept promise to free Kuntar 09:49 Amman gunman wounds Israeli Arab, 5 others before shooting self 08:12 Woman who inherited Kafka writings refuses to dispel manuscripts mystery 01:30 Israel concerned by U.S. plans to meet with Iranian envoy 02:17 Former MI head under investigation for disclosing state secrets 02:56 Outside the Regev home, family and neighbors share the sorrow 03:39 Barak: IDF will always work to bring the boys home 08:44 Top MK: Public pressure on abductees forced decision makers' hands 23:06 Veteran Mideast journalist Eric Silver dies aged 73 Previous Editions Select Day 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul

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