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Lieberman. 'Assad wants western legitimacy'
Photo: Reuters
Bashar Assad. Seeks peace?
Photo: Reuters

Lieberman: Assad's only goal is to stay in power

Foreign minister says willing to enter into negotiations with Syria, but stresses ceding Golan Heights not an option. 'Syrians want to talk about peace but do not truly seek peace,' he says

Following developments in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he is willing to open peace negotiations with Syria but that ceding the Golan Heights is not an option. In closed talks with senior officials in the international community Lieberman addressed the turmoil in the region for the first  time and warned against the rise of radicals.

 

"There is no justification or reason for Israel to cede the Golan Heights," he said during meetings with Japanese envoy to the Middle East Yutaka Limura, Quartet envoy Tony Blair and Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi. "President Assad's only goal is to maintain the rule of the Assad dynasty," he said. "Assad knows that the process of democratization will jeopardize his rule."

 

The Japanese envoy arrived in Israel after visiting Damascus where he met state officials with whom he discussed the possibility of renewing the Israel-Syria peace talks.

 

"Unfortunately, Syrians desperately want to talk about peace but do not really seek peace. They want a (peace) process in order to get western legitimacy," Lieberman said. He stressed that returning the Golan Heights was not an option. "I am willing to enter into direct negotiations with Syria immediately but on the basis that talks will be based on peace in exchange for peace," he said.


Lieberman and Luxemburg's foreign minister (Photo: Flash 90) 

 

"These past few weeks have seen the Syrians boosting weapons smuggling to Hezbollah in south Lebanon," he noted. "They increase weapons acquisitions every year, repeatedly refuse to allow IAEA inspectors to visit suspicious sites and continue to tighten relations with Iran."  

 

'Radicals taking over'

The foreign minister's statements come at the end of a particularly grueling month during which he held more than 20 meetings with European and US senior officials, including EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, NATO's secretary-general and US senators Joe Lieberman and John McCain. He recently concluded a visit in Brussels where he represented Israel in an annual meeting with the EU.

 

During his Monday meeting with former British Prime Minister Toby Blair Lieberman first addressed developments in the Middle East. "I'm not sure the changes in the region will see democracy being established especially when to comes to countries such as Yemen, Bahrain or Libya," he said.

 

The foreign minister noted there is growing fear that instead of EU-style democracy those countries will end up with radicals led or inspired by Iran will in power. He noted the political state in Lebanon as an example of what could occur in other parts of the Middle East.

 

Lieberman also commented on the peace talks with the Palestinians and said a peace deal was not possible as long as the Palestinian economy remains weak. "A Palestinian state on 1967 borders under current the circumstances will not bring peace but transfer the conflict into the Sharon region," he warned.

 

"Our experience in south Lebanon and Gaza shows that when we pull back without achieving the right conditions first, we end up with radicals taking over. In both cases those elements are supported by Iran. A withdrawal to 1967 borders will result in the same situation 15 minutes away from the Prime Minister's Office and the Knesset."

 

Lieberman said that the real problem was the average annual income per capita in the Palestinian Authority. "While in Israel it stands at $30,000, in the PA it is $3,000. When it is $15,000 we will be able to solve the conflict without the use of mediators or the quartet. Reconciliation will come naturally."

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.01.11, 12:47
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