DATE=3/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-SYRIA (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-260622
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton and his Syrian counterpart
have opened a meeting in Geneva on prospects for re-
starting Israeli-Syrian peace talks. Correspondent
David Gollust reports from the Swiss lake resort that
U-S officials are down-playing chances for a quick
return to the bargaining table.
TEXT: The talks convened without ceremony at the
luxury Intercontinental Hotel that was the site of the
first meeting between the two presidents six-years
ago.
With photographers present for the opening of the
meeting, Mr. Clinton and President Assad exchanged
pleasantries and shook hands.
They then proceeded to a conference room to join wider
delegations, including Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk
Al-Shaara, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and
White House National Security Adviser Sandy Berger.
In comments to reporters before the opening of the
talks, Mr. Berger cautioned against expectations of a
quick breakthrough. He said President Clinton is
trying to determine if there is enough common ground
to get the negotiations - which broke off in January -
going again.
He said the differences barring the way to a Syrian-
Israeli deal are relatively few - but deep - and he
said it remains to be seen if they are reconcilable.
Mr. Berger's caution contrasts with Israeli press
reports that behind-the-scenes bargaining has brought
the two sides close to an agreement.
In broad terms, a treaty would provide for the return
of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to Syria in
exchange for security guarantees and normalized
relations with Damascus.
On the eve of the meeting, the official Syrian media
repeated the government's insistence that Israel
withdrawal fully to the lines that existed before the
June 1967 war.
Israel has wanted the slightly more-favorable 1920's
border between the then-British-controlled Palestine
and Syria.
President Clinton telephoned Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Barak before the meeting, and Mr. Berger said he
would talk to the Israeli leader again after meeting
with President Assad.
Mr. Clinton mediated the resumption of Israeli-Syrian
peace talks last November after a four-year break.
But discussions broke off in January amid Syrian anger
over Israeli press leaks about a U-S draft that
revealed broad Syrian concessions on normalization
issues.
U-S officials have left open the possibility the talks
in Geneva could extend into a second day Monday, but
they are unlikely to extend any further since Mr.
Clinton is scheduled to meet Tuesday with Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak at the White House. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/RAE
26-Mar-2000 09:28 AM EDT (26-Mar-2000 1428 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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