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U.S expert: Washington will remain major player in Syrian track

Politics Materials 9 February 2010 09:00 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb 8 / Trend U. Sadikhova /

If the negotiations between Syria and Israel resume, Washington will still play a key mediating role of a third party, U.S professor on Middle East politics Joshua Landis said.

"Both parties [Syria and Israel] stated several times that Washington remains a key player in this process. The United States in any case will remain involved," Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, Landis told Trend over phone.  

Even with the participation of third countries in the indirect talks between Israel and Syria, for example, France or Turkey, as it was two years ago, the United States directly or indirectly, will participate in "negotiating table", he said.

When Syrian President Bashar Al- Assad said that Israel is pushing the Middle East into a new war, the head of the Israeli government Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his readiness to begin negotiations with Damascus with the participation of a third country.

Indirect talks between the parties were launched in May 2008 under the mediation of Turkey, after eight-year-break. But in December they ended without any result, after Israel launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip.

The main demand of Syria, which supports the Palestinian movement Hamas and has a strategic partnership with Iran, is the return of the Golan Heights occupied by Israel in 1967. But Israel refused from this.

U.S Professor Landis, author of the Internet-edition Syria Comment believes that the parties can start indirect talks after the U.S. pressure. But it will not give any result.

The United States want to preserve the basis for further negotiations between Syria and Israel, because the peace process continues. There are more chances to avoid a new war, Landis said.

"I'm not sure that both parties - Syria and Israel believe in peaceful solving this issue. But at the same time they want to continue the peace process. None of the parties - Syria or Israel, Hamas or Hezbollah do not want war, Landis said.  

The recent talks about the threat of another war, aimed to restart negotiations between Syria and Israel. Washington insists on it, Landis said.

"Both sides agreed with the U.S. presence, because the United States have always had great power. In Washington's opinion neither Syria nor Israel want to look like the countries because of which the negotiations were stopped," the U.S professor said.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said that Syria is ready for retaliatory war against Israel if the latter wants it.

"Israel creates hostility in the region. I want to say them that it is enough to be the main initiator of the wars in the Middle East. Now you threaten the Gaza Strip, tomorrow - Lebanon, then - Iran, and now - Syria. Israelis, do not try the patience of Syria, al-Mualem said.

According to Landis, Damascus will continue to insist on the return of the Golan Heights, while holding the peace talks with Israel for Washington not to consider Syria as an initiator for ceasing the peace process.

The warming in relations between Damascus and Washington occurred last year, when the White House has decided to return its ambassador to Syria after a five-year absence.

In 2005 the United States recalled its ambassador from Syria after some high-ranking officials of the Syrian leadership were under suspicion of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Despite the suspicions of the UN and the EU in the murder of al-Hariri, who opposes the influence of Damascus in the country and Hezbollah, accusations towards Syria were not proved.

The United States accuse Syria of supporting terrorism and relations with Hezbollah and Hamas, attacking Israel by rockets. But the Syrian leadership justifies it by Israeli occupation of its territories, Landis said.

However, the U.S expert does not see any conditions to sign the armistice between Syria and Israel, due to the fact that both sides continue to insist on this.

"Syria states that the only way is the return of the Golan by Israel, while [Binyamin] Netanyahu refuses to do it. So, it remains a mystery how to unravel the situation," Landis said.

Water reserves, strategic location and favorable conditions for development of agriculture are unlikely to promote return of the Golan Heights by Israel.

"Israel can attack Syria at any time. It acts this way by attacking nuclear facilities or killing leaders of Hamas and so on," the U.S professor said.

However, given the pressure of the United States, Syria and Israel can resume indirect talks, which will be ineffective as in 2008.

"Everyone understands that these steps are taken to please the U.S., which may compensate for indirect talks by lifting economic sanctions or return an ambassador to Damascus. Therefore, Syria and Israel can find a way to indirect talks, but it will do nothing, Landis said.  

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