Syrian FM says Damascus ready for negotiations
Walid Muallem says Syria not seeking military solution to tensions with Israel; adds that while Damascus opposes Road Map, it supports Arab initiative
"We are by no means seeking a military solution against Israel. We are ready for negotiations with Israel, to realize the peace," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said in an interview with al-Arabiya television ahead of US President George W. Bush's visit to the region this week.
"The Road Map does not tangibly exist. We are committed to the Arab peace initiative. Unfortunately this initiative has not been marketed correctly by the Arab nations. We came to participate in the Annapolis peace conference based on our willingness to negotiate," said Muallem in the interview, due to be broadcast on Wednesday.
The foreign minister also addressed the relations between Damascus and Tehran and denied "the existence of a Syrian-Iranian axis parallel to the Saudi-Egyptian axis.
"However, Syria has always made an effort to improve the relations between Arab nations and Iran, because the geographical and historical reality dictates this."
Muallem said Syria hoped the leadership crisis in Lebanon would be resolved and a president elected there prior to the next Arab summit, which is set to convene in late January.
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa is expected to visit Beirut after having met with the Arab foreign affairs ministers in Cairo on Thursday to discuss the appointment of a new president in Lebanon.
