17 June 1998
INDYK DISCUSSES SYRIA, PEACE PROCESS, IRAN, IRAQ
(Syria signaling interest in resuming negotiations) (670) By Rick Marshall USIA Staff Writer Washington -- Syria has been sending very clear signals that it wants to resume negotiations with Israel, Assistant Secretary of State Martin Indyk said at a special briefing at the State Department June 17. Ever since talks on the Israel-Syrian track broke down two years ago, Syria "has been casting around for other options," Indyk said. The growing alliance between Israel and Turkey and the changing situation in Iran have led Syria to look for ways to break out of its increasingly confined position, the assistant secretary commented. Further, Israel's announcement that it was ready to accept United Nations Security Council resolution 425 "was unwelcome news to Syria ... (and) created a certain amount of anxiety." Indyk noted that Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, who met with top Administration officials June 16, suggested that Syria and Lebanon could be ready to make peace with Israel within 3 months if the talks could start from where they were left two years ago. The problem is that the stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations has "infected" every other track in the Middle East peace process, Indyk said. Even the multi-lateral discussions on issues like refugees, water, environment, and arms control "are for all intents and purposes stalled out as well." The regional economic integration which seemed so promising a few years ago has stopped, leaving the Middle East in the strange situation of being the "least integrated region" in the world. "Everything has been set back," he commented. The United States is very concerned with this stalemate, he said, suggesting it resembled a bicycle -- "if you're not pedaling forward, you fall off." Indyk painted a more positive picture with respect to Iran, however. The election of President Mohammad Khatami last year was a vote for change, civil society, the rule of law, and a less internationally isolated nation. At the same time, Tehran has been moderating its criticism of the peace process and "reaching out to its Gulf neighbors," while playing a constructive role in Afghanistan, he said. This change has been manifesting itself on the streets of Iran and in the openness of the Iranian press. "There's a good deal of turmoil going on," Indyk observed, noting a strong backlash recently by the Revolutionary Guards. While Khatami has called for a dialogue of civilizations with the United States -- which President Clinton has supported -- the U.S. also believes "it is important to have a government-to-government dialogue." Still, for the time being, the Iranian government "is not yet ready for that." As a result the U.S. will continue to support the civilizational dialogue and hope that the demands of the Iranian people will lead to further progress, Indyk commented. Still, the picture in Iran remains somewhat mixed. Specifically the U.S. continues to oppose Tehran's sponsorship of terrorism and its efforts to develop ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. Indyk pointed out that Secretary of State Albright would be giving a "groundbreaking speech" tonight (June 17) in New York, which would touch significantly on Iranian issues. Turning to Iraq, the assistant secretary suggested that the United States was trying to learn from its recent experiences. For example, U.S. efforts to focus the blame for the suffering of the Iraqi people where it rightfully belongs -- on Saddam Hussein -- "fell on deaf ears" in many parts of the world during the crisis this past February, he conceded. Indyk revealed that the United States would be working to help promote Iraqi opposition groups "in a visible and effective way." "They represent an alternative vision of Iraq," he said, one that is pluralistic and democratic. While he did not "place a high probability on their ability to overthrow Saddam Hussein," their efforts to highlight the brutality and war crimes of the current regime deserve support, he said.
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