Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., December 31, 2007 Tevet 22, 5768 | | Israel Time: 07:03 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine

Syria's President Bashar Assad (L) meeting with U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) in Damascus Sunday. (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 16:56 30/12/2007 U.S. Senator says Syria's Assad is ready for peace with Israel By The Associated Press Tags: Golan Heights, Arlen Specter  Syrian President Bashar Assad is ready for peace with Israel, an influential U.S. Senator said Sunday after talks with the Syrian leader. Senator Arlen Specter said the political atmosphere in both Syria and Israel was different now and that the time was positive for resuming peace talks between the two countries, halted since 2000. "We had a very productive meeting with Assad," Specter, a Republican from Pennsylvania, told The Associated Press after talks with the Syrian leader in Damascus. Advertisement He added that he got the impression after the meeting with Assad that the time was "very positive for productive talks between Israel and Syria." "There is a sense that he (Assad) is ready and the Syrian public opinion is ready (for peace)," Specter said. The meeting with Assad that was also attended by Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat. Specter said the United States has the potential to bridge the gap between Israel and Syria. He added that the atmosphere "is very different in Damascus today and is very different in Jerusalem today," in part because of last month's U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, which Syria attended. In 2000, formal U.S.-sponsored Israel-Syria talks neared agreement but broke down over final border and peace arrangements. Syria demands the full return of the Golan Heights, the territory seized by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War. The two Congressmen arrived here Saturday on a two-day visit for talks on the stalled Middle East peace process and strained U.S.-Syrian relations. Specter, who held talks Saturday with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, declined to confirm reports that he would convey a message to Assad from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on resuming peace talks between the two countries. Relations between Syria and the U.S. appeared to warm briefly following Syria's attendance at the Annapolis conference, which was widely seen as an attempt to gain favor with Washington. But both sides have since lashed out at one another, each accusing the other of meddling in Lebanon, where the Western-backed government is locked in a political standoff with the pro-Syrian opposition. The U.S. also disapproves of Damascus' support for anti-Israel militant groups and its alliance with Iran. French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday instructed his staff to suspend diplomatic contacts with Syria until Paris has proof that Damascus is working for a consensus president in Lebanon. Last week, U.S. President George W. Bush rejected dialogue with the Syrian leader, saying his patience ran out on President Assad a long time ago. A Syrian government newspaper urged Sunday the United States to work seriously for peace in the region. "What is the problem of the U.S. Administration with Syria so long as U.S. delegations, Republicans and Democrats, have not stopped visiting Damascus and confirming the importance of its role in solving the region's problems?" Al-Baath, the ruling party newspaper, said in an editorial. "Where is the courage and daring that Bush urged all parties to display to achieve peace in the Middle East?" it added. Related articles: Olmert to Assad: Israel awaits your response on reviving talks Assad says Syria turned down nuclear weapons offer in 2001 Itzik urges Assad to transfer Eli Cohen's remains to Israel Bookmark to del.icio.us Au revoir Assad Sarkozy says he'll cut ties with Syria over the Lebanon presidential crisis. Women march on Women in Black marks its 20th year, but the occupation continues.   1.   Syria`s Trickery 17:06  |  Brod 30/12/07   2.   If Assad was ready for peace he would come to Israel as Sadat did 17:10  |  Sam 30/12/07   3.   Is the good senator talking about the same Syria? 17:10  |  Conroy 30/12/07   4.   Syria wants peace with Israel so that it can get the Golan back. 17:34  |  Tosefta 30/12/07   5.   Israel and Syria should give this opportunity to reach 17:37  |  Smadar 30/12/07   6.   Walking the line, Dude? 17:43  |  Stephen. 30/12/07   7.   ME leike peace 17:51  |  Dav 30/12/07   8.   MUSSIE Countries DON`T want peace especilaly 18:15  |  Cristo 30/12/07   9.   # 1 Bod, Right on!!!! Don`t trust Syria! 18:17  |  Petra 30/12/07   10.   Why Is It People Hear One Thing When Something Else Is Said 18:23  |  Shepherd 30/12/07   11.   Arlen Specter Is One Of The Most Intelligent Senator And Nobody 18:50  |  Eli 30/12/07   12.   Only the weak fear talk. Negotiations dont commit, only test, 1 19:04  |  David Turner 30/12/07   13.   Specter selling his office 19:15  |  Natallie Durson 30/12/07   14.   anyone who believes assad is brain dead 19:18  |  real vision 30/12/07   15.   Be wary of the message - and the messenger 19:20  |  Morris Valentine 30/12/07   16.   Spector - Not Exacly a Source of Pride 19:37  |  Tod Zuckerman 30/12/07   17.   to real vision no 14 19:42  |  Tina 30/12/07   18.   Only the weak fear talk. Negotiations dont commit, only test, 2 19:43  |  David Turner 30/12/07   19.   Will Khamenei let his Syrian Poodle do it? 19:48  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/12/07   20.   Senile/Spector 20:03  |  JewBoy 30/12/07   21.   real vision with a brain 20:11  |  Herb 30/12/07   22.   To Tosefta (#4) 20:32  |  Morris Valentine 30/12/07   23.   Tod and Jew Boy_ Not True. Specter Is A Strong Supporter Of 20:33  |  Eli 30/12/07   24.   #12 Mr.Turner.................! 21:28  |  Stephen. 30/12/07   25.   Durson 21:31  |  zayda 30/12/07   26.   The specter of Specter (Morris Valentine #22) 22:01  |  Tosefta 30/12/07   27.   The Liberal`s Scorecard 22:37  |  Walter 30/12/07   28.   To Tosefta (#26) - on the spectre of peace 22:55  |  Morris Valentine 30/12/07   29.   Natallie and emigrant politicians 23:17  |  Albert Seligman 30/12/07   30.   Have you ever actually been to the Golan?! 00:53  |  Michael 31/12/07   31.   Stephen, #24, Of course you are correct about 1973. I erred in 03:07  |  David Turner 31/12/07   32.   Simply naive... 03:43  |  Jay 31/12/07   33.   JewBoy - you misunderstand Specter`s motive 06:43  |  Matt 31/12/07

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