Assad says Syria turned down nuclear weapons offer in 2001
In interview with Austrian daily, Syrian Pres. says U.S. busy with election so Mideast peace by 2008 unlikely.
By Yoav Stern Tags: Bashar Assad Syria Middle East peaceSyria received an offer of nuclear weapons six years ago, but is not interested in such arms or in a nuclear reactor, Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview published Wednesday in the Austrian newspaper Die Press.
"At the beginning of 2001, someone brought us a letter from a certain Khan. We did not know if the letter was genuine or a forgery by Israel to lure us into a trap. In any case, we rejected [the approach]. We were not interested in having nuclear weapons or a nuclear reactor. We never met Khan."
Abdul Qadeer Khan masterminded Pakistan's nuclear program, and has admitted selling nuclear technology to Iran, Libya, and North Korea. Regarding Syria's response to the September 6 Israeli attack on an unidentified target in its area, Assad said that Syria has a right to response to that attack, but hinted that it would not do so.
"We could have responded to the IAF strike by firing a missile, but it would have given Israel an excuse to start a war, and we did not want that," Assad said. "This was a military facility under construction. Since it was a military facility, I can't give details. But that does not mean that this was a nuclear facility."
Western analyses of satellite imagery of the site indicated it may have concealed a nuclear reactor under construction similar to one of North Korean design. In subsequent images, Syria appeared to have razed the structure.
Assad called for Syrian-Israeli peace talks to resume, as follow-up to the Annapolis Conference, and claimed that negotiations could be completed quickly. He said that Syria and Israel had gone 80 percent of the way toward peace in negotiations over returning the Golan Heights, before the talks collapsed in 2000, and that the remaining 20 percent could be completed within a few weeks, and a Golan withdrawal within six months.
"Now a referee is needed - the United States above all, naturally with support from the European Union and United Nations," he said. "But without the U.S., nothing will work."
Syria sent its deputy foreign minister, Fayssal Mekdad, to Annapolis, where he emphasized the need for Israel to leave the Golan. Assad said in his interview that it is necessary to continue the effort begun at the conference.
"If a plane starts and reduces speed, it will crash," Assad said "Annapolis was a one-day event. It all depends on the efforts afterward. We have to be optimistic, but cautious."
The Syrian track is slated to be discussed at the conference the Russians will host in Moscow in the first part of 2008. Details of that gathering remain vague, but senior Spanish officials told Haaretz last week that including Syria in the peace process guarantees success on the Palestinian track as well.
Syria traditionally maintains that the peace process must advance under American auspices. Assad repeated that stance yesterday, but was skeptical that George Bush's administration would be in a position to sponsor talks during an election year.
He also insinuated that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert cannot advance peace because he is "weaker than any prime minister before him."
Assad rejected the claim made in Israel that Syria supports "radical movements" like Hamas and Hezbollah.
"Whether Hamas is radical or not, they are strong. Therefore one has to talk to Hamas. Without them, there will be neither stability nor peace," he said, adding that the same goes for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Regarding ties with Iran, Assad said that Syria would support whoever advances its interests and goals. "Iran is a very important country - whether you like it or not," he said, and stability in the Middle East is not possible without it.
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Syrian President Bashar Assad. (Archives) |
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Peace with Egypt has not resulted in massive Israeli tourism there. The simple reason is that there is no safety for Israelis, and even for Westerners in general, in Egypt. Israelis could never drive through Hezbollah occupied Lebanon, either.
Need I say more?
I wonder why no one seems to consider that Syria has a commodity to offer Israel which is a lot more precious to us than all of the Golan. No, it is not just a peace treaty - it also entails opening the land routes via Lebanon, Syria and Turkey to Europe, the Caucasus, Russia. Isn`t it time to end our self-imposed insularity with a single airport and no railroad or highway connections to the wide world? Just think of that, instead of focusing your view on the Golan to the exclusion of a broader perspective. Even a "cold peace" could thereby make us a much more prosperous and attractive country. I suggest that Israelis should be asked not only whether they are against leaving the Golan, but also whether they would like to travel to Europe or the Caucasus in their cars, or perhaps buy a railway ticket to Paris.
"even the Koran says that the Jews were coerced into converting to Islam" where in the quraan? please quote the text / surah / abric verse and not some american idiots interpertation . your propoganda may fool the illetrate and gullable West , but at least speak the truth .
The ugly regime in Syria exist thanks to 47 years of marshal law , they eliminated civil justice to military justice , oppressed the masses by a soviet like system of killer police (Mukhabarat)the minute they achieve peace they must end marshal law this will be their end , Israel support Assad's regime Mr.Olmert(Shame on him ) respect Bashar and his policy !! Guess why ! Peace can be reached with a Free & Democratic Syria only the rest is bla bla bla , Syria will get rid of those bastards very soon wether Israel like it or not
That is why a certain site was bombed, and then burried by earth taken from a hill side.
Assad could not determine whether the letter from A.Q. Khan was genuine or a forgery. He therefore decided to turn to the very reliable and genuine North Koreans for his nuclear weapons needs.
Robert, How is the weather in Montreal? You are a political genius. So when did you start giving political advice? Please make sure you do not do so when you are busy at Chez De Paris on St. Catherine.
is that you raw butt from MSN? raw butt you never fought a war and you never made any personal sacrifices the closest you got to a real war was playing cowboys and indians you see raw butt from USA saying israel is invinsible is just fine for you as long as someone else has to do the fighting now go write us another novel about your fantasy world that wont sell
jazaallah kyrin and peace be unto you
who has the moral high ground?
No surprise in this account. The ONLY nation we know of that actually accepted Khan's presentation was Libya and that was conditional. Saddam turned him down, Iran used him for what it needed, Korea did the same. I would like to know the total story, but we do know that Libya's acceptance was not what Khan wanted financially, that Iran was screwed on the P-1 centrifuges and that Khan got caught and is now under "house arrest' (ha, ha) in Pakistan. The "Great Proliferator" was Ronald Reagan who encouraged, allowed and supported the development of the Islamic Bomb in return for the use of Pakistan as a base to launch attacks on the Soviet Union by what became Al Quaeda. In the end, the "Khan" (spell that Pakistani) nuclear weapons proliferation industry turned out to fail of it's own perfidy. Thank God.
hopefully your message reaches people out there Peace to you and yours, SALAM
As a individual and as a person of Lebanese background I would like to extend my hand of friendship and trust to all those of the Jewish faith. There are many of us out there that want peace but we lost the voice to say so in summer 06. I hope that Lebanon will be the first to have transport crossing between the 2 nations also sharing in economic development Science Technologies, culture food and everything else that come with it. It?s sad that we don?t have this already, two beautiful countries and two beautiful people together. To those that don?t want this, you?re a curse on the rest of civilisation!
You say that a bad peace is better than a good war. I say you have neither with Egypt. The peace Israel has with Egypt is only marginally better than than the "war" we have now with Syria. I'll throw your question back at you. Since 1973 how many soldiers died in the conflict with Syria. I would say hardly any. You might want to bring in the war in Lebanon and I will propose you look at what is happening in Gaza and that only two years after Israel left. So please spare me the polemics. The peace treaty with Egypt was a rotten deal. Israelis need more that just a "promise" of peace. To Jax I would be motivated to give up the Golan or at least part of it, BUT it has to be for a real peace. And yes Jews we need to be recognised as a Jewish State, just as per the UN resolution that declared as much.
Funny stuff out of Syria!
True, the Presidential Election is not in 2009. But that is when the primaries for 2012 will be held! Just kidding! ;-)
the border with syria is very quiet,even without formal peace.it is highly unlikely to heat up militarily,when the de facto is institutionalised.since syrian executive is no saintlier,nor less sane than israeli,it is aware of weakness and being patient.syria has not responded to recent premeditated bombing of installation,nor to accidental bombing of some 30 civilian fruit packers in lebanon2.there remains the golan,which is a fair piece of land perhaps,but not as great as most golanophiles,never having been there,think.since the security argument is mostly bogus,& it not being part of an emotive greater israel,it's not worth it.the only rational reason for staying in the golan is to avoid a peace treaty with syria.but why israel perceives thus its interest is a mystery.if it doesn't work,we can allways go back. there seem to be many volunteers here.this time you can go without me,thank god i'm too old.
I can definitely understand your desire to hold on to that choice piece of land at all costs. The problem is that no matter how long you hold on to it Syria will never conveniently forget that it belonged to them in the first place just like in the thousands of years since they left, Jews never forgot that Jerusalem was once theirs. Israel is now in a position of power so it can afford to dictate the terms of any peace with its enemies. How long will that last no one knows... but the reality facing this small country is that although it can win battle after battle, it only takes one loss before the Israel as we know it ceases to exist. And trust me, the arabs are willing to wait as long as it takes to see that happen....
Robert, for how long did you serve on the Suez canal? how many friends or relatives of yours died on the Suez canal? Do you know how many Israelies died almost daily on the margins of the canal before the peace with Egypt? What nonsenses are you talking about? Do you know that since Sadat came to Jerusalem, no soldier died in that front anymore? When you and people like you will understand that a "bad" peace is a million times better than a "good" war? Real Peace takes a long time to achieve, war sparks in a second and a LOT of people DIES in it. Use your brain and think please. Peace onto you all.
Well yes, Mohammed, we realize that not all the protagonists involved are fluent in Yiddish...
Quoting: "Syrian Pres. says his country rejected a 2001 offer from nuclear arms trafficker." But that doesn't oblige him to reveal any other offer that he did accept...
Mohammed it is nice to know that one of our biblical brothers is following the discussions here and posting his comments no matter how insulting his ideas are. Nonetheless and I always was curious about this. How do you feel that, even the Koran says that the Jews were coerced into converting to Islam, that there could be a sizable amount of Jewish blood running through your veins. Do you cringe knowing that your ancestors were Jews until they were threatened upon death to convert. Or do you simply ignore that fact brother yid.
There will only be true peace (with any of Israel's neighbors) when there is Democracy. Note: Democracy does not mean "have an election then "POOF" you have democracy". Democracy means freedom of speech, court system to check power of government, constitution, rule of law, etc... so sorry to Palestinian apologists, , Gaza is NOT a democracy (Far from it!)
never will be in fact all of yidistan in 'dispute'
lebanon for lebaneses israel for jews with golan of course,and all the arabs lands for muslims arabs.so bashar enjoy life or go find the 73virgins.
There is no pressing need to give up all of the Golan, just as there was no pressing need to give up all of the Sinai. There is hardly a occupied population, Syria has no real historical connection to the Golan. If we take the Sinai as a template it is a total failure. Egypt turns a blind eye to arms smuggling, the Egyptian press, unions, people are virhulently anti-semitic. Hardly any new business comes out of the relationship with Egypt. Finally, Egypt is one of the Israels fiercest opponents at the UN. So I say let's learn from the mistake of Sinai and never give up all of the Golan
If Syria really wants peace with Israel, it would not make feeble excuses. It is Israel and not Syria that has the most to lose. If Israel leaves the Golan, what will they receive in turn? Will the border be the International border between Mandated Palestine and Syria (1923-1948)or the much more exposed 4 June 1967 armistice line? Will the Golan be demilitarized? Will Syria break from Iran and stop supporting Hizbollah terrorists? If Syria really wants peace, they know the answers to these questions.