DATE=6/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S-SYRIA REACT(L)
NUMBER=2-263359
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton has expressed sadness at the
death of Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad and also hope
that the leaders who succeed him in Damascus will
continue to search for peace with Israel. VOA's David
Gollust reports from the White House.
TEXT: Mr. Clinton was informed of the death of
President Assad as he prepared to make a graduation
speech at a college in Minnesota. And later in an
airport statement in Minneapolis, he stressed his
respect for the late Syrian leader despite their
policy differences, and his belief that President
Assad's expressed commitment to making peace with
Israel was sincere:
///Clinton actuality///
While we had our disagreements, I always
respected him because I felt that he was open
and straight-forward with me. And because I felt
he meant it when he said he had made a strategic
choice for peace. I regret that that peace was
not achieved in his lifetime. And I hope that it
can still be achieved in no small measure
because of the commitment he made.
///end act///
Mr. Clinton was able to broker a resumption of
Israeli-Syrian peace talks last December after a
suspension of nearly four years. However the talks
broke down in January with the sides in agreement on
most elements of a peace treaty -- but not on a
precise boundary that would follow an Israeli
withdrawal from the Golan Heights.
What turned out to be Mr. Clinton's last meeting with
President Assad came on March 26th in Geneva, where he
tried unsuccessfully to persuade him to return to the
bargaining table.
U-S-Syrian diplomatic contacts continued however, and
Mr. Clinton told reporters in Minneapolis he hopes
that after a transitional period, a new leadership in
Damascus will stay on the path toward peace chosen by
President Assad:
///second Clinton actuality///
There will be a period of mourning in Syria.
There will be a period of sorting-out. And the
Syrian people will make some decisions and then
we'll see what happens. But, you know, we've
been at this for years because of the decision
that he made to go back to negotiations and to
try to move away from conflict. And it's
certainly a path I hope the country will stay
on.
///end act///
U-S Secretary of State Madaleine Albright met Syrian
Foreign Minister Farouk Al-Sharaa last week in the
region, and said while they had a forward-looking
discussion, there was no progress on the territorial
impasse between Israel and Syria.
The administration's principal focus of late has been
on helping Israel and the Palestinians reach a final-
status accord by their self-imposed September deadline
- with Mr. Clinton scheduled to meet Palestinian
Authority President Yasser Arafat here next Wednesday.
(Signed)
NEB/DAG/PT
10-Jun-2000 16:20 PM EDT (10-Jun-2000 2020 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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