Syrian President Dr Bashar Al Assad is ready to reopen negotiations with Israel "without conditions," the visiting UN Middle East envoy said yesterday — an overture Israel promptly rejected as propaganda. "President Assad had reiterated to me today that he has an outstretched hand to his Israeli counterpart, that he is willing to go to the table without conditions," Terje Roed-Larsen said after talks with the Syrian leader. "This is very encouraging because we in the UN do not believe that there will be a lasting peace unless there is a comprehensive peace. We have to address all the tracks in the Middle East peace process," he said.
But Israel rapidly dismissed the reported offer as a propaganda move designed to alleviate pressure from the United States. "This seems to be a propaganda manoeuver by the Syrian side," a senior foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity. "The Syrians are reacting because they have their backs to the wall after the (US) sanctions and the UN vote on Lebanon. "Only if a proposition reaches us through the correct American channels then we will be ready for discussions," he said.ÂÂ
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