Assad – wants to cut deal with America
Photo: Reuters
Syrian official: Assad, Bush deal in works
Ynet exclusive: Senior source in Damascus tells Ynet Syrian leader Assad interested in deal that would allow him to stay in power; the price: Incriminating senior officials behind Hariri killing, cutting aid to anti-U.S. fighters in Iraq. Assad still refusing to dismantle Hizbullah
Syria's Assad wants a deal: Syrian President Bashar Assad is engaged in advanced contacts with the U.S. and France in a bid to work out an agreement that will allow him to stay in power, a senior source in Damascus told Ynet.
According to the source, the contacts are being undertaken through Saudi intermediation and are meant to resolve the international crisis currently faced by the Syrian leadership.
The deal being worked out is reportedly based on the following understandings: Two senior Syria officials, General Rustom Ghazaleh and one of his assistants, Jameh Jameh, will be incriminated in connection with the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Meanwhile, Assad himself and particularly his brother-in-law, Asef Shawkat, will be cleared of involvement in the killing.
Moreover, the Syrians are expected to end their support for anti-American elements operating in Iraq and pledge to tighten border controls and act to end arms transfers into Iraq.
The Syrians will also pledge to minimize their cooperation with Iran, which is funding and directing many of the groups fighting American troops. Notably, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Damascus a week ago.
The Iranian-Syrian connection is raising concern in the West, particularly in light of reports that the Iranian leader was accompanied in the visit by arch-terrorist Imad Mughniyeh, one of the world's most wanted terror figures.
Israeli interests left out
However, Syria is apparently at odds with the U.S. and France regarding the dismantling of Hizbullah. At this point, Damascus is refusing to meet the demand to disarm Hassan Nasrallah's organization.
However, the Americans are also asking for far-reaching reforms as part of the deal. The senior Syrian source told Ynet Syria is willing to go ahead with extensive reforms, which have already been formulated in the past by a French team of experts and deal with all areas of life in the country.
According to the source, Saudi Arabia played an important behind-the-scenes role, and also blocked former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam from accessing most Saudi-controlled media outlets. Notably, Khaddam recently submitted to interviews where he slammed Assad's regime and said the Syrian leader was directly involved in Hariri's assassination.
However, Khaddam should not be the only concerned party: Veteran Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara is also drawing remarks of dissatisfaction in western capitals. According to the Syrian source, the U.S. and France recommended that Assad minimize al-Shara's involvement, as the foreign minister is considered to be part of the radical old guard.
As a "bonus," the Syrian leader is also supposed to improve the atmosphere by releasing notable opposition activists from jail.
One thing is conspicuous in the deal: Israel, or more accurately, Israeli interests are left out. The current Syrian refusal to dismantle Hizbullah prevents any possibility of improving the atmosphere between Damascus and Jerusalem, and all other clauses in the agreement have no immediate effect on Israel.
