Syria΄s Four-Way Summit Tackles Regional Issues

Source: Al-Manar TV, 4-9-2008
After years of suffering from an international "isolation" that aimed at undermining Syria's major role in the Middle East, Damascus hosted Thursday a quadripartite historic summit that joined Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan.
The four-way summit was widely seen of importance, as France holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, Syria similarly takes the rotating chairmanship of the Arab League, and Qatar currently heads the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council.
All the Middle East outstanding issues were raised during the summit, including the Lebanese file as well as the situation in Palestine, Iraq, Sudan, and Georgia. The so-called peace process was also an essential file at the discussion roundtable. The summit stressed that only through dialogue
ASSAD WARNS AGAINST 'FRAGILE' SECURITY IN LEBANON
During a press conference following the summit, Assad told reporters that the Lebanon situation remains fragile because certain states back fundamentalism. "There would be no solution in Lebanon without settling the issue of fundamentalism, especially that states and forces back these sides," Assad added.
"The situation in Lebanon remains fragile and we are worried about the events in the north," Assad noted, revealing that he called on President Michel Suleiman to send further Lebanese troops to the north to control the security situation. "The presence of the army is a must to tackle the problem," he concluded.
Sheikh Hamad, however, said "as long as the Lebanese army remains intact Lebanon is in no danger." He urged the various Lebanese factions to pursue with implementing the Doha Accord and urged the international community to help in solving development problems.
Assad also confirmed that diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria will be established by the end of the year. "The diplomatic exchange was decided on during the summit in August and now we are in the process of legal procedures," Assad said. "Ambassadors are likely to be exchanged by the end of this year," he added.
Assad also said France, Qatar and Turkey were working with Syria to develop a document outlining the basic principles for direct Syrian-"Israeli" negotiations, which are currently mediated by Turkey. Assad said Syria had outlined six points, which it conveyed to the Turkish PM, and was now waiting for Israel to set its points. "Our response to the points raised by "Israel" will be positive, and we will move directly to direct negotiations," he added.
The Syrian president added that this move would come after the election of a new US administration. He noted that he had discussed with President Michel Suleiman during the latter's visit to Damascus the need for Lebanon to "take part in negotiations with Israel, but only when we reach the stage of direct negotiations."
President Assad also drew attention to the Palestinian issue, describing it as "vital" to the Syrian track, which he said he and head of the Palestinian authority, President Mahmoud Abbas, had agreed on.
SARKOZY NOT SORRY TO HAVE OPENED DOORS WITH SYRIA
For his part, Sarkozy said that France emphasizes on the importance of Lebanon's independence. "We have started a Phased march with the Syrian president and it was honored by him. We have different viewpoints but we are trying to overcome controversial issues in favor of Lebanon's interests," he added.
"I am not sorry that I opened the door for talks with President Assad. We are working side by side to restore trust," he said.
Sarkozy also said France encourages Syria to proceed with the peace march with Israel. "We are ready to play all the roles to back the peace process. We trust the Americans as they trust us," he added.
Meanwhile, the French President warned Iran that its determination to press on with its determination to press on with its nuclear rive risked an Israeli strike that would be a "catastrophe."