Syrian Information Minister Holds Press Conference in London
Monday, September 04, 2006 - 09:30 PM
www.sana.org/eng/22/2006/09/04/63317.htm

London, (SANA - Syrian News Agency)-Syrian Minister of Information Muhsen
Bilal said the US Administration intends to insult the Arabs and Muslims
under the pretext of Sep.11 attacks through launching names as "terrorism"
and lately launching description of "fascism" on Muslims.

"The core of the problem is the Israeli occupation. there will be no peace
except by the Israeli full withdrawal from the occupied Arab lands into the
line of June 4th , 1967," Minister Bilal added in a press conference Monday
held at the British Organization Center in London in the presence of
journalists from Arab and foreign mass media.

"Israel Should announce readiness to offer the Palestinians an independent
state with Jerusalem as its capital with the returning of all refugees back
home as well as implementing UN Security Council resolutions 242, 338, 425,"
The Minister went on.

He called on the US and Europe to provide support to achieve the
comprehensive peace in the region, welcoming any European or UK efforts in
this domain.

Information Minister described the visit of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
to Damascus as successful and fruitful, adding "the visit has reflected
Syria's interest and commitment to resolution 1701 regarding cease-fire in
Lebanon though Syria had considered the resolution as unbalanced, but Syria
announced readiness to dealing positively with the items of the resolution."

Regarding a question on the possibility of a Syrian mediation to release the
two Israeli captured soldiers, Minister Bilal said "Syria can't be a
mediator between an Arab side and an occupier.. There were European
countries which played the role of mediator in the past and the prisoners
were exchanged. it's possible for those countries to assume this mission
now."

On specifying a timetable for border demarcation and establishing diplomatic
relations between Syria and Lebanon, Minister Bilal replied that "Syria has
sent an official letter to the brothers in Lebanon regarding demarcation and
diplomatic ties. but poisoning atmospheres and the Israeli brutal aggression
on Lebanon prevented us from going on in this regard".

Concerning the Syrian stance vis-a-vis deployment of international troops
along Syrian- Lebanese borders, the Syrian Minister said "we and Lebanon are
one family and one people in two independent sovereign countries.. We can't
accept international forces to be deployed along our borders because their
mission is disengagement with Israel which has a bloody history in the
aggression on Lebanon."

"Israel is an aggressive side that occupies our lands, kills our children
and perpetrates massacres against Arab people. we will remain considering
Israel as an aggressor until we restore all occupied lands and all Arab
rights," Information Minister went on.

On the UK's Premier Tony Blair's visit to the Middle East and if Damascus
still sees that he could play the positive mediator role in the region, the
Minister replied " Any European President who is ready to play a positive
mediation to achieve the just and comprehensive peace is welcomed in
Damascus."

Answering a question on Syrian hints to hold dialogue with the US, Minister
Bilal said "we are willing to hold dialogue with any party to restore the
Golan, but there are no positive signals from Bush Administration and we
fully recognize that the peace process in the Middle East is nearly
impossible without a US interference... so it should assume its duties in
the negotiations because it is the only power that is capable to exert
pressure on Israel to reach a settlement."

Mazen