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Last update - 03:37 21/12/2008
Diplomats: Assad says he won't restrain arming of Hezbollah
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Olmert, israel news, Assad 

Syrian President Bashar Assad has told a number of European foreign
ministers and senior diplomats this month that he would not lift a finger to restrain Hezbollah's arming in Lebanon. "I am not Israel's bodyguard," he reportedly said.

The future of Syria's relations with Iran and Hezbollah is one of the main subjects Israel has raised in its indirect negotiations with Syria. Assad's remarks show no willingness for a concession to Israel on this issue, let alone an overall change of policy.
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Israel claims that Iran is smuggling rockets and other weapons to Hezbollah through Syria, and that the Syrian army is even arming the organization.

Both front-running candidates for prime minister, Tzipi Livni and Benjamin Netanyahu, say Syria must show a willingness to act against the smuggling.

An Israeli government source cited reports in recent weeks from three European officials who met with Assad. On the one hand, the officials said their impression was that the Syrian president was serious about negotiations, but that Assad's positions remained uncompromising.

The source said Assad told the Europeans that Syria was willing to take
significant steps in talks with Israel only after an Israeli declaration that it would withdraw from the entire Golan Heights.

Assad also transmitted the message that despite continuing indirect talks
through Turkey, between himself and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, he sees no possibility of progress before the Israeli elections in February.

Olmert will be leaving Monday for a dinner meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to discuss talks with Syria.

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      1.   Another example of olmert`s peace partners 03:37  |  Arie 21/12/08
      2.   Nothing to Talk About 03:44  |  Ron 21/12/08
      3.   Wise man 04:18  |  Colin Wright 21/12/08
      4.   Oh, that`s great Assad! 04:42  |  GloomBoom.com 21/12/08
      5.   Re: Colin Wright #2 07:00  |  Jerry 21/12/08
      6.   He wants peace or just territory then back to business as usual? 07:21  |  PETER SM 21/12/08
      7.   And What Exactly Is Assad Willing To Do In Return for Golans? 07:54  |  massaraksh 21/12/08
      8.   Can Syria be trusted? Bashar Assad :"I am not Israel`s bodyguard" 08:42  |  Jean Van Daem 21/12/08
      9.   The people of Israel are against giving away the Golan. 08:43  |  Jean Van Daem 21/12/08
      10.   OLMERT AGAIN? 09:01  |  Josephus 21/12/08
      11.   Another wonderful accomplishment for Tzipi 10:04  |  Kobi 21/12/08
      12.   Russia is arming Assad, Iran, Lebanon 10:19  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/12/08
      13.   Just a minute... 10:27  |  Maureen Ann 21/12/08
      14.   Israel has only one honest option: Saudi Plan 10:42  |  Ivar 21/12/08
      15.   IAF WILL BE READY TO DROP BOMBS 10:59  |  indrajaya 21/12/08
      16.   Why should he? 11:21  |  JS 21/12/08
      17.   lebanon is money for assad 11:33  |  judah 21/12/08
      18.   Then Syria has no interest in peace. End of story 11:57  |  Zvi 21/12/08
      19.   the leftists try to compare talks with Assad to talks with Sadat 12:08  |  zionist forever 21/12/08
      20.   IVAR Since when have Iran Hezb.and Hamas agreed to the Saudi plan 12:13  |  PETER SM 21/12/08
      21.   Israel should invade Russia then # 12. 12:14  |  Gal Doron 21/12/08
      22.   MAUREEN.Hezballa are dedicated to the destruction of Israel 12:17  |  PETER SM 21/12/08
      23.   #21, Gal Doron 12:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/12/08
      24.   CWRIGHT Golan IS on the table.Syria cannot have war & peace 12:55  |  PETER SM 21/12/08
      25.   Once upon a time there was a man named 13:07  |  zionist forever 21/12/08
      26.   Peter, 20, for two to tango, one must break the ice 13:16  |  Ivar 21/12/08
      27.   Well, at least Assad is honest about this... at last... 13:37  |  Esther 21/12/08
      28.   IVAR Israel made peace with those that wanted peace. 13:54  |  PETER SM 21/12/08
      29.   Peter, 28, wonderful: I will expect Israel will accept Saudi Plan 14:14  |  Ivar 21/12/08
      30.   Bashir, as a MD you should know that... 14:56  |  ERSB 21/12/08
      31.   Ok, So Damascus is Thus a Legitimate Target 15:34  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 21/12/08
      32.   peter spin meister Israel made peace because it had to. 16:01  |  Labhras 21/12/08
      33.   28,,, peter sm... 16:03  |  ravi 21/12/08
      34.   Why should he? The US is continuing to supply Israel . 16:07  |  Dutch 21/12/08
      35.   peter spin meister what bits please explain 16:11  |  Labhras 21/12/08
      36.   Sunnis in Syria, 16:13  |  syria man 21/12/08
      37.   Doris because Hezballah is comiitted to destroying Israel 18:52  |  PETER SM 21/12/08
      38.   And Olmert wants to give Golan to Assad? 19:50  |  Avi 21/12/08
      39.   lets just tell all the jews to the diaspora give away the country 23:06  |  zionist forever 21/12/08
      40.   Peace Arab Style ! 00:11  |  Akram Zekaria 22/12/08
      41.   39~ Zionist forever. I wish one will put your post of the Stage! 00:24  |  Akram Zekaria 22/12/08
      42.   Trying the new censor ploy 01:07  |  Mark Lincoln 22/12/08
      43.   34~ Dutch "let`s get the double standards". 01:38  |  Akram Zekaria 22/12/08
      44.   No, Syria is not Israel`s bodyguard 02:10  |  David R. Zukerman 22/12/08
      45.   #37, PETER SM on obliteration 02:23  |  VIPER 22/12/08
      46.   #31 And just how do you figure that, Ovadiah 02:39  |  Johnboy 22/12/08
      47.   Viper - that would not bother Peter 03:24  |  Mark Lincoln 22/12/08
      48.   why would syria restrain arming hezbullah when they are arming 04:06  |  glenna 22/12/08
      49.   Assad is a terrorist and will never change 04:36  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 22/12/08
      50.   "Diplomats: Assad says he won`t restrain arming Hezbollah" 05:10  |  Akram Zekaria 22/12/08
      51.   assad`s stance mirrors the saudi initiative 05:53  |  eric 22/12/08
      52.   From America--Don`t Give Up Your Land!! 06:39  |  Donna 22/12/08
      53.   The neo-con American Enterprise Institute 06:42  |  Mark Lincoln 22/12/08
      54.   Assad does not want peace. 06:49  |  US Citizen 22/12/08
      55.   assad`s stance mirrors the saudi initiative 07:48  |  eric 22/12/08
      56.   Syria Makes It`s Own Bed 07:57  |  Baruch Gold 22/12/08
      57.   Syrian arrogance 09:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/12/08
      58.   #34 dutch 10:23  |  hamad 22/12/08
      59.   34 11:22  |  zionist forever 22/12/08
      60.   Syria and Iran 16:50  |  davidson county 22/12/08
      61.   #57, CIPORA, breaking news for you 05:11  |  VIPER 23/12/08
      62.   #58, HAMAD, you will change your mind 05:15  |  VIPER 23/12/08
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