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Last update - 13:52 04/09/2008
ANALYSIS / France elbows U.S. aside in Syria negotiations
By Zvi Bar'el
Tags: Israel, Syria, United States

A senior diplomatic source close to the Turkish-mediated talks between Israel and Syria said the United States has been persuaded that it should take part in the talks, but that France has "pushed itself" into Syria; and French President Nicolas Sarkozy's participation in talks in Damascus have led the U.S. to cancel its decision for now.

The source said that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch was to have participated as an observer at the coming Israeli-Syrian meeting in Turkey, but that Washington was not prepared to be "a tail" to the French and so Welch's participation was called off.

The source also said Welch's participation was to have kicked off direct talks between the Israelis and the Syrians and it is not clear now when such talks will begin.
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France said Syrian President Bashar Assad had been the one to invite the French to sponsor direct talks, and that the U.S. cannot complain if it hesitates to take part.

Sarkozy and Assad are to meet today in Damascus with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar's ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The summit is considered a major achievement for Assad, since France is now the chair of the European Union and Al Thani is president of the Gulf Cooperative Council of six countries.

Since Washington is not taking part in the indirect talks, and perhaps to strengthen France's position in effecting a breakthrough of the American isolation of Damascus, Assad may make do with the French-Qatari-Turkish sponsorship of the direct talks with Israel until the U.S. presidential elections. At that point an American representative could join them. In any case, Israel would not be able to refuse a direct meeting, even if Washington decided not to take part.

Sarkozy's participation in the summit also makes a mockery of UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which France and the U.S. initiated four years ago. The resolution states that all foreign forces must leave Lebanon and all armed militias must be disbanded, including Hezbollah. The resolution angered the Syrians, and according to UN research, partially laid the groundwork for the assassination of Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, who worked to promote it. Resolution 1701, which ended the Second Lebanon War is based on Resolution 1559. With the major conciliation between France and Syria now underway, it seems that there will no longer be anyone to push for its implementation.

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      1.   typical Bush/Cheney (mal)administration arrogance 05:32  |  Akiva P 04/09/08
      2.   SPHERES OF INFLUENCE RETURNING 06:44  |  Arik Silverman 04/09/08
      3.   Agreed Akiva 07:26  |  Mark of Lewiston 04/09/08
      4.   America is not exactly an "honest broker" 10:16  |  Natallie Durson 04/09/08
      5.   Washington is not prepared to be a tail 10:52  |  Steve the Pals. 04/09/08
      6.   Insulting! 11:31  |  Jim 04/09/08
      7.   Peace is not in the interest of the USA 12:15  |  MiddleStanian 04/09/08
      8.   "Israel would not be able to refuse a direct meeting." 12:16  |  Maureen Ann 04/09/08
      9.   Natallie Durson , Israel educator and development psychologist 12:41  |  Israeli citizen 04/09/08
      10.   Making Mockery of UN resolutions? 13:09  |  Nomad 04/09/08
      11.   More of the same 13:47  |  Eini@kfupm.edu.sa 04/09/08
      12.   Everything the Bush administration touches 13:55  |  Edith 04/09/08
      13.   The diference between Sarkozy ... 14:02  |  Edith 04/09/08
      14.   THIS ISN`T ABOUT FRANCE ELBOWS US ASIDE 14:19  |  indrajaya 04/09/08
      15.   France has the elbows but the US has the money 14:59  |  x-ray 04/09/08
      16.   #14 When Mr. Bush is gone, then.... 15:54  |  John Allen 04/09/08
      17.   #13 Edith 16:01  |  John Allen 04/09/08
      18.   Re: No 13 16:07  |  Robin 04/09/08
      19.   Continued decline of American influence? 16:18  |  Manny Goldstein 04/09/08
      20.   Syria Enemy of Israel & Free World Constantly Supplies Hezbollah 16:55  |  Linda Rivera 04/09/08
      21.   Israel,sleep safely,France assures your security! 16:58  |  Absolute Sweden 04/09/08
      22.   UN Resolution 1701 WICKEDLY BETRAYED Israel & the Free World 16:59  |  Linda Rivera 04/09/08
      23.   #15 You know nothing about U.S Dollar 17:04  |  Linda Rivera 04/09/08
      24.   it is good that sarko is taking the initiative. 17:44  |  frenz 04/09/08
      25.   #25 Linda Rivera 17:58  |  Mark B. 04/09/08
      26.   Good thing if Sarkozy can help bring some stability to the region 18:03  |  Clothilde 04/09/08
      27.   Natallie Durson 18:41  |  sam 04/09/08
      28.   Edith & Robin: wait w/praising Sarkozy till he`s actually - 18:50  |  ivo 04/09/08
      29.   I agree with Edith (#13) modulo 18:52  |  Leo 04/09/08
      30.   The U.S. and The `real peace` option 19:22  |  Afikoman 04/09/08
      31.   #22 1701 saved israel from its own madness 19:52  |  delta 04/09/08
      32.   Linda Rivera - Yes Linda 20:24  |  Dollar 04/09/08
      33.   Natalie Durson outdoes herself again 21:40  |  H 04/09/08
      34.   Meanwhile, Syria is encroaching in the North 21:51  |  Lynn 04/09/08
      35.   Reply to Robin in Sydney 22:54  |  Jean-Paul DOGUET 04/09/08
      36.   #28 ivo ...what Syria really wants 23:12  |  Lynn 04/09/08
      37.   #25 Mark B...first thing that should happen is Congress 23:17  |  Lynn 04/09/08
      38.   France elbows U.S. aside in Syria negotiations 00:00  |  Jerry Nolan 05/09/08
      39.   good. i hope we`ll learn something! 00:09  |  bashar 05/09/08
      40.   Natalie wrong (as usual) 02:07  |  utagawa 05/09/08
      41.   #32 Meanwhile Israel is encroaching in the West 02:12  |  Roo 05/09/08
      42.   Part of Broader US Plan for influence 03:55  |  John 05/09/08
      43.   Don´t trust France!!! De Gaulle is dead - but his spirit lives. 05:23  |  A.I.G. 05/09/08
      44.   Until U.S. Policy Reflects... 06:15  |  Gray 05/09/08
      45.   #7 MiddleStanian 07:49  |  Jim 05/09/08
      46.   #33 john form frisco very reasonable 08:31  |  wiseUP 05/09/08
      47.   #president elect gray is now going to tell us what us interest 13:49  |  vhardman 05/09/08
      48.   syria 07:33  |  phil 08/09/08
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