'Damascus unlikely to sever ties with Iran'

"It is naïve to think Syria would behave foolishly and abandon its strategic alliances with Iran and Hizbullah, which are not limited solely to the Israeli-Arab conflict but also touch on topical geopolitical issues. These strategic associations are for the long term," so proclaimed Dr. Samir Taqi on Tuesday.

Taqi, who serves as Damascus' chief envoy to Ankara, is the official who relayed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's message regarding Israel's willingness to return to the negotiations table to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Speaking to 'al-Manar,' Hizbullah's television news channel, Taqi explained what drove Assad to publically reveal Israel's overtures. According to Taqi, the move serves Syrian interests by strengthening the country's claim to the Golan.

This was also the objective behind Assad's decision to send an envoy to the Annapolis peace talks, he added.

The recent exchanges between Israel and Syria has stirred unrest in Iran, prompting Damascus to launch soothing messages towards Tehran – including the rhetoric repeated in the al-Manar interview.

According to Taqi the destabilizing party is Washington, which is not interested in calm and continues to issue threatening messages to Iran.

Less than a week ago Assad confirmed to a Qatari newspaper that Olmert had indeed expressed his willingness to withdraw from the Golan in return for peace with Damascus.