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Syrian President Bashar Assad. (AP) Last update - 10:39 28/05/2008 Assad: Lebanon should talk with Israel if negotiations progress By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters Tags: Hezbollah, Syria, Lebanon  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told visiting British members of parliament on Tuesday that progress on the Syrian-Israeli peace track would encourage Lebanon and Israel to initiate their own talks. "The president hinted that it would not be in Lebanon's interest if it did not have its own talks if Syrian-Israeli talks advanced," the source familiar with the talks said. Meanwhile, Syrian sources said on Wednesday that the talks would resume in the coming days. Advertisement Assad dismissed on Tuesday Israeli demands for Syria to abandon an alliance with Iran as a requirement for a peace deal. The Syrian president told British MPs that the Baath Party government intended to maintain its "normal relations" with Iran while it conducts indirect talks with Israel to regain the occupied Golan Heights, a source familiar with the meeting told Reuters. Israeli officials have repeatedly said that the peace agreement depends on Syria distancing itself from Iran, and severing ties with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Palestinian group Hamas. The two organizations are also supported by Iran. "The president said Syria has normal relations with Iran. He made it clear that any suggestion to drop them was not a reasonable request," the source said. "He said if Israel could question Syria's relations with Iran then Syria could question Israel's ties with other countries, particularly the United States," the source added, referring to Israel's main ally. The parliamentarians, including former home secretary and Labor Party member Charles Clarke, are on a trip to Syria to hear first hand the country's take on the Middle East. Syria and Israel said last week they were having indirect talks mediated by Turkey, the first confirmation since 2000, when talks collapsed over a proposed Israeli withdrawal from the Golan, a fertile plateau occupied by Israel four decades ago. A week after the announcement, Syrian defense minister Hassan Turkmani visited Tehran to discuss closer military cooperation, Syrian government newspapers said. Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, who lives in exile in Syria, also made a separate trip to the Iranian capital. The alliance between Syria and Iran dates to 1980, when Damascus, alone in the Arab world, sided with Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. Syria reinforced its links with the Islamic Republic over the last few years to counter pressure from the United States, including sanctions imposed by Washington in 2004. Syria's link with Hezbollah contributed to an expansion of U.S. sanctions on Syria and increased isolation from the West, but European officials praised Syria for its role in this month's agreement that ended the political crisis in Lebanon. Turkey said the indirect peace talks it is mediating could be upgraded to face-to-face encounters if progress was made. Syrian forces pulled out in Lebanon in 2005 after a 29 year presence under international pressure following the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik al-Hariri, but Damascus retains influence, largely through Hezbollah. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government say Israel occupies the Lebanese Sheba Farms. The United Nations says Sheba Farms are Syrian land occupied by Israel, not Lebanese. Related articles: Syrian minister reaches defense deal with Iran during Tehran visit Olmert: Peace talks with Syria are a 'national obligation' Bookmark to del.icio.us   Scuba SMS Ultrasonic sound wave technology revolutionizes underwater communication. 'Hip-hop violinist' Israeli violinist participates in New York event, celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary.   1.   oh yes! oh yes yes YES! 10:09  |  eric 28/05/08   2.   #1 Eric 10:39  |  Scott G 28/05/08   3.   Negotiated peace 10:41  |  Joseph 28/05/08   4.   Baathists 11:45  |  Gregor 28/05/08   5.   TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT PRINCIPLE 12:16  |  Indrajaya 28/05/08   6.   No change in Syria`s relationship with Iran. 12:37  |  Jean Van Daem 28/05/08   7.   El President`e Assad of Greater Syria 13:06  |  FOX 28/05/08   8.   #6 13:12  |  Scott G 28/05/08   9.   INDRAJAYA"TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT PRINCIPLE" where did that get your 13:33  |  PETER SM 28/05/08   10.   WHATS the Syrian dictator doing dictating to Lebanon 13:41  |  PETER SM 28/05/08   11.   Who is Lebanon? 13:41  |  Ronnie Wolman 28/05/08   12.   assad the mafiosi chief still treats lebanon 13:58  |  amos 28/05/08   13.   Syrian Son of Heaven has spoken and Israeli Leftie Mandarins 14:08  |  Absolute Sweden 28/05/08   14.   personal view 15:05  |  Dr D 28/05/08   15.   ERIC wake up they just signed a defence treaty with Iran 15:11  |  28/05/08   16.   # 9 Peter SM....less then that for some countries 15:13  |  Lynn 28/05/08   17.   Lynn apparently algae are the next big source for biodiesel 15:41  |  PETER SM 28/05/08   18.   Arabs and Jews are the same people and need genuine peace. 16:04  |  Kasim 28/05/08   19.   kasim 18 17:16  |  alan 28/05/08   20.   # 1. Eric.The great peace effort...... Step by step.: 17:25  |  Stephen. 28/05/08   21.   UN Resolution 1701 BETRAYED Israel, Lebanon & the Free World 17:34  |  Linda Rivera 28/05/08   22.   #`s 2 & 20 to scott and steven 11:38  |  eric 29/05/08

Read & React U.K. union mulls new move to boycott Israeli academia Responses: 98 Meron Benvenisti: Isolation of Gaza is part of Israel's divide and conquer policy Responses: 5 Rosner's Guest: U.S. strengthening Iran, says dovish pro-Israel lobby Responses: 34 Olmert to Kadima: Give me time to prove my innocence Responses: 28 Haaretz.com TV: East J'lem Arabs detail violence they face by city's Jews Responses: 12 Rosner's Domain The story of Obama and the 'A' word Poll: What political option is better for Israel? Guest: If Iran can't be stopped diplomatically, we should contain it Attack on Iran? Not today (WTR) Explaining Hagee's Holocaust remarks More Headlines 05:51 Olmert to Kadima: Give me time to prove my innocence 08:30 Sources: Money laundering the key charge in Olmert case 09:10 Report: U.S. urges UN to find secret nuclear facilities in Syria 11:23 Barak: Early elections appear inevitable due to Olmert probe 00:00 U.K. academic union moves to consider boycott of Israeli academia 02:36 Jeremy Ben-Ami 08:25 Palestinians pin hopes of economic recovery on high-tech companies 09:31 Gaza City: Where the traffic jams smell like falafel 06:46 Israeli Arab seeks to overcome prejudice in advertising world 06:47 State to give Gush Katif evacuees NIS 1.5b more compensation Previous Editions Select Day 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may

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