The Hindu : Syria getting ready for talks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 19, 2003

International

International

Syria getting ready for talks

By Atul Aneja

NOT FAR FROM SYRIA: Two F/A-18 Hornets take off aboard the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, which the U.S. continues to retain in the Mediterranean. — AP

MANAMA April 18. While the threat of force against it has not receded, Syria appears to be getting ready for tough negotiations during the visit to Damascus by the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell. Gen. Powell has included Syria as one of his destinations in his coming visit to the region. With the war in Iraq practically over, the U.S. is expected now to pay vigorous attention on the West Asia "road-map" for achieving lasting peace.

The U.S., prior to its dialogue with Syria has not, however, abandoned its threatening posture towards Damascus. While many of its warships have left the waters surrounding Iraq, the U.S. has continued to retain two of its aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean Sea, not far from Syria. The U.S. carriers Theodore Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman continue to remain deployed in these waters, while only one aircraft carrier, Nimitz, has now been retained in the Persian Gulf.

Signalling the threat of force earlier, the U.S. had chosen to bomb the Syrian trade centre in Baghdad. Economic pressure has also been stepped up after the U.S. special forces blocked the Iraqi oil supply to Syria along the Mosul-Banias oil pipeline. There is also considerable talk about imposition of economic sanctions against Syria under the Syria Accountability Act.

The surge of U.S. interest in Syria is because of the capacity of Damascus to upset U.S. long-term goals in Iraq. Besides, Syria can be an impediment in the expansion of the security zone of U.S. key ally, Israel, along its borders in the north and the northeast. Analysts point out the U.S. has recognised that it faces a potential, Lebanon type situation in Iraq. Relentless guerilla warfare spearheaded by Syrian and Iranian backed Hezbollah fighters had forced out Israel out of Lebanon, after nearly 20 years of partial occupation that began in 1982.

The U.S. now apprehends that it could be a target of unconventional warfare inside Iraq and face a similar situation, in case potential anti-U.S. fighters are armed and supported by an external force in the neighbourhood. Apprehending that Syria could support such a movement inside Iraq, the U.S. is imposing enormous pressure on Damascus to dissuade it from pursuing such a course. The U.S. would also want Syria to terminate its support for the Hezbollah, enhancing Israeli security. Besides, Washington, apprehending that Syria has mass destruction weapons, wants these stockpiles to be eliminated. Syria in the last few days has been in the process of spelling out its stance. By demanding that West Asia should become a zone free of mass destruction weapons, Syria has asserted that it would not consider the demand for shedding its mass destruction weapons alone. Israel, its hostile neighbour, it has stressed must also be brought within the ambit of disarmament.

Focused on the removal of mass destruction weapons in the entire region, including Israel, Syria has ruled out admission of weapons inspectors on its soil. Syria has also reiterated its rejection of the U.S. presence in Iraq. At a press conference in Cairo on Thursday, the Syrian Foreign Minister, Farouk al Shara, stressed the necessity of the withdrawal of invading forces from Iraq. During Gen. Powell's visit, the Syrians are expected to urge Washington to persuade Israel to withdraw from its 1967 occupation of the Syrian Golan heights.

Considerable progress has been made in the past on defining a peace package that could include Israeli withdrawal from the Golan area backed by Syrian security guarantees for Israel and a formulation that would ensure fair usage of the area's water resources. The U.S. Secretary of State is certain to ask Syria to withdraw its support to the Hezbollah and pull back its troops from Lebanon.

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