US to dialogue with Syria?

EU presses America to change Mideast policy, act on Baker report

Reuters | Published: 03.20.07, 16:53

The European Union is pressing the US to alter its policy toward Syria and toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to be more in line with recommendations made last December by the Iraq Study Group, according to senior Palestinian and British diplomatic officials.

The Study Group petitioned the US to engage in dialogue with Syria and stated the Jewish state should be pressured into withdrawing from the West Bank and Golan Heights. The West Bank runs alongside major Israeli population centers. The Golan Heights is strategic mountainous territory that looks down on Israeli and Syrian population centers and twice was used by Syria to mount invasions into Israel.

Senior officials from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party told WND they were informed by top EU diplomats the European body is pressing the US to adopt the Iraq Study Group conclusions regarding American negotiations with Syria and Israeli withdrawals.

A diplomat from Britain's Foreign Ministry touring Israel today confirmed to WND the EU is in talks with the US about changing its Mideast policy. He said the UK received signals Washington is ready to act on some of the Study Group recommendations.

"America understands that Iraq cannot be solved unless Syria is engaged and Israel withdraws from the Golan Heights and the West Bank," the diplomat said, speaking on condition his name be withheld.

The diplomat pointed to a visit to Syria last week by Ellen Sauerbrey, the US assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration, as a public gesture that Washington is willing to engage Damascus. Sauerbrey was the most senior US official to visit Syria since the US withdrew its ambassador following the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, for which Syria was widely blamed.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mekdad told reporters following last week's meeting Damascus is ready to engage in "serious" dialogue with Washington on all Middle East issues.

Also last week, EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana told Syria he expected Israel to evacuate the entire Golan Heights as part of any future peace deal.

Solana's remarks were blasted by Israeli Knesset members, who pointed out the EU chief did not call for

Syria to stop supporting Hezbollah or providing refuge to the leadership of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups, who live openly in Damascus.

Aside from its recommendations regarding Syria and Israel, the Iraq Study Group, which was led by former US Secretary of State James Baker, called on the US to engage Iran and insurgent leaders in Iraq.