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Last update - 00:58 04/09/2008
Assad: Any attack on Iran would be a global 'disaster'
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies
Tags: Assad, Israel, Syria, France

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday that any attack on Iran would be a disaster and he pledged to help find a peaceful solution
to the nuclear dispute between the West and Tehran.

"Nobody in the world will be able to bear the consequences of any action that is not peaceful because it would not result in a solution but in a disaster," Assad said after meeting French President Nicolas Sarkozy in the Syrian capital.
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"Obviously there is a lack of confidence between Iran and the countries involved in this issue. We will continue our efforts for dialogue," he said.

Sarkozy had asked Assad to use Syria's ties with its ally Iran to urge the Islamic Republic to cooperate with Western powers over its nuclear program, which they say could be used to develop nuclear weapons.

Iran says the program is for peaceful purposes. But the United States and Israel have not ruled out military action if the dispute cannot be resolved through diplomacy.

The French president is the first Western head of government to visit Syria since the 2005 assassination of Lebanese statesman Rafik al-Hariri, which French officials believe was orchestrated from Syria. He is also looking for Syrian cooperation in resolving the situation in Lebanon.

France has taken a lead in re-engagement with Syria after Assad embarked on indirect peace talks with Israel and adopted what was seen as a more conciliatory stance towards Lebanon.

Paris had accused Syria of contributing to the crisis in Lebanon that turned violent in May before a Qatari-brokered deal resulted in the formation of a national unity government in which the Hezbollah led-opposition has veto power.

Al-Hayat: Israel-Syria peace talks to resume on Sunday
Peace talks between Israel and Syria will resume this coming Sunday, according to a report in Wednesday editions of the Lebanese newspaper Al-Hayat. Citing French diplomatic sources, the report stated that the next round will be especially significant as it will deal with establishing a permanent border between the two countries. The issue of border is considered a potential deal breaker from the Syrian standpoint.

French officials say the two sides are at loggerheads over the route of the border. While Israel's position states that the border between the two states should run along the 1923 international border, Damascus would like Israel to withdraw to the lines which separated the two sides prior to June 4, 1967.

While there are detailed maps which delineate the international border which was drawn by the British and French mandatory authorities which ruled Palestine and Syria, respectively, there are no maps indicating the precise border route between the two states in the days prior to the Six-Day War. As such, there is room for a flexible interpretation of the border despite earlier Syrian statements indicating that there would be no compromise on this issue.

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      1.   Syria borders 13:26  |  jacques 03/09/08
      2.   Israelis should pray that 14:51  |  Lebnani 03/09/08
      3.   Golan cannot be returned unless Ben Jabo Ben Tize approves 15:01  |  Aounist 03/09/08
      4.   The Golan ? a paramount strategic asset for Israel. 15:22  |  Jean Van Daem 03/09/08
      5.   Syria Taqiyyah Talk 15:34  |  Brod 03/09/08
      6.   Lebnani on peace chances 18:07  |  zengeos 03/09/08
      7.   Lebnani on 1923 borders 18:10  |  zengeos 03/09/08
      8.   Ehud Olmert has rehabilitate Assad?s image? 20:20  |  Jean Van Daem 03/09/08
      9.   Defining Peace logically and rationally 21:49  |  Jonathan Seer 03/09/08
      10.   Syria Is Behind the Assassination of Hariri 22:03  |  Joseph.E 03/09/08
      11.   Syria & The Golan 22:57  |  Brant 03/09/08
      12.   What international border? 23:35  |  FO 03/09/08
      13.   Global Disaster???!!! 23:58  |  C.A. Fulghum 03/09/08
      14.   #3 more importantly WHY SHOULD THE GOLAN GO TO SYRIA! 23:59  |  vhardman 03/09/08
      15.   Syria & The Golan 00:08  |  thomas 04/09/08
      16.   Until Syria becomes a democratic state 00:24  |  Stephen in New York 04/09/08
      17.   Biden Has Answered Dictator Assad Statement 00:24  |  Joseph.E 04/09/08
      18.   Not attacking Iran would be a much much bigger global desaster ! 00:29  |  Al 04/09/08
      19.   Assad Has A Ways To Go 01:28  |  Ron 04/09/08
      20.   #12 FO 01:50  |  Boycott 04/09/08
      21.   Attack On Iran A Global Disaster? 02:00  |  Heather Czerniak 04/09/08
      22.   TO: Heather (#17 Response) 02:59  |  FulghumInk 04/09/08
      23.   well said Jacques 10:05  |  steve 04/09/08
      24.   Here`s what`s going on with Syria 10:48  |  Natallie Durson 04/09/08
      25.   And not attacking Iran is also a global disaster 18:49  |  Israeli citizen 04/09/08
      26.   Jean van damn 20:56  |  Anthony 04/09/08
      27.   zengoes 7 21:00  |  Anthony 04/09/08
      28.   Never mind Iran, Syria - stop these annoying Haaretz tv ads 22:00  |  Vernon Marriott 04/09/08
      29.   To Vernon Marriott re: Haaretz ads 01:45  |  Persian Kitty 05/09/08
      30.   To Vernon Marriott and Persian Kitty on the ads 20:26  |  Mark B. 05/09/08
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