Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is in Syria for talks with the country’s leader, Bashar al-Assad. The talks come two days after Assad held discussions with a U.S. envoy about the possibility of renewing peace negotiations with Israel.
Posts Tagged ‘bashar al assad’
12 Hottest Politicians’ Wives
July 29th, 2010 |
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With the power and authority of government office, you might imagine that hotties would be falling over themselves to get their hands on the great and good. In fact, that’s rarely the case – politics can be a dry, dry subject and it takes decades to get to the top. However, to test the rule, [...]
US moves to reassure Israel over Iran
July 27th, 2009 |
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Defence secretary among four senior officials in the Middle East advocating a diplomatic solution to festering crisis with Tehran
The United States today sought to reassure Israel that it was worth attempting to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions — but made clear that Washington expected Tehran to reply to its diplomatic overtures by September.
Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, is one of four senior Obama administration officials visiting Israel this week, underlining the president’s determination to secure a comprehensive Middle East peace agreement.
Gates said he did not believe that Barack Obama’s timetable would “increase the risks to anybody” — a reference to Israeli concerns that its nuclear monopoly may soon be challenged by the Islamic republic.
Israel has hinted at a pre-emptive attack on Iran should it deem diplomacy to be at a dead end. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said today that he reaffirmed to Gates “the need to use all means to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear military capability”.
George Mitchell, the president’s special envoy, flew to Cairo today and was due back later for more meetings in Israel. On Saturday he was in Damascus meeting President Bashar al-Assad, who is being wooed by Obama after being shunned by the Bush administration.
The US envoy said restarting talks between Israel and Syria was a “near-term goal” for Washington. “I told President Assad that President Obama is determined to facilitate a truly comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace,” he told reporters.
Indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel, mediated by Turkey and centred on the occupied Golan Heights, were suspended during Israel’s offensive against the Gaza Strip in December. Turkey said this month it was ready to resume mediation efforts.
But there has been no public sign from Syria that Assad has agreed to influence Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that controls Gaza, and the bitter opponent of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority. Hamas, listed as a terrorist organisation by the US and Britain, is based in Damascus.
The US is sending an ambassador back to Syria after withdrawing the previous incumbent in 2005 in protest at the Beirut assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, which was widely blamed on Damascus, despite repeated denials.
Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Muallem, said in London on Friday that Damascus – Tehran’s only Arab ally – could help find a way out of the impasse over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, complicated by domestic turmoil since last month’s disputed presidential elections.
As well as Iran, Gates’s talks in Israel centre on missile defence and bilateral security issues. General Jim Jones, Obama’s national security adviser, and Dennis Ross, a senior Middle East and Iran expert, are also due in Israel.
The flurry of high-level activity follows Obama’s long-heralded speech to the Arab and Muslim worlds in Cairo in June, when the president made clear his strategic commitment to working to achieve Middle East peace. These latest moves are intended to achieve concrete results.
Mitchell and the Israeli defence minister, Ehud Barak, have been trying to agree a delicate compromise on freezing Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank – a hot potato in Israeli domestic politics but vital if Arab countries are to take any steps, at the urging of the US, to “normalise” their relations with Israel.
Netanyahu has pledged not to build new outposts or expropriate territory in the West Bank. But he insists construction must continue to accommodate “natural” Jewish population growth. The precise definition of a moratorium has yet to be agreed, though Israeli officials speak of exempting 2,500 housing units that are still being built. Palestinians and Arabs say a total freeze is the minimum required and accuse Netanyahu of bad faith. Mitchell is also due to see Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, at his Ramallah headquarters.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Obama envoy in Syria for peace talks
July 26th, 2009 |
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US special envoy George Mitchell tells Syrian president that US wants ‘truly comprehensive’ Arab-Israeli deal
The White House will step up efforts to revive the near-moribund Middle East peace process this week, with senior Obama administration officials deployed to seek progress between Israel, Syria and the Palestinians.
George Mitchell, the president’s special envoy, flew to Tel Aviv today after “candid and positive” talks in Damascus with President Bashar al-Assad, who is being wooed by Obama after being shunned by the Bush administration. Mitchell went straight into a meeting with Ehud Barak, Israel’s defence minister.
The US envoy said restarting talks between Israel and Syria was a “near-term goal” for Washington. “I told President Assad that President Obama is determined to facilitate a truly comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace,” he told reporters.
Indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel, mediated by Turkey and centred on the occupied Golan Heights, were suspended during Israel’s offensive against the Gaza Strip in December. Turkey said earlier this month it was ready to resume mediation efforts.
But there has been no public sign from Syria that Assad has agreed to influence Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that controls Gaza, and the bitter opponent of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority. Hamas, listed as a terrorist organisation by the US and Britain, is based in Damascus.
The US is sending an ambassador back to Syria after withdrawing the previous incumbent in 2005 in protest at the Beirut assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, which was widely blamed on Damascus, despite repeated denials.
Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Muallem, said in London on Friday that Damascus – Tehran’s only Arab ally – could help find a way out of the impasse over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, complicated by domestic turmoil since last month’s disputed presidential elections.
Underlining intensifying US diplomacy in the region, the defence secretary, Robert Gates, is also due in Israel tomorrow for talks with Barak and Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, on missile defence, Iran and bilateral security issues.
General Jim Jones, Obama’s national security adviser, and Dennis Ross, a senior Middle East and Iran expert, are also due to in Israel.
The flurry of high-level activity follows Obama’s long-heralded speech to the Arab and Muslim worlds in Cairo in June, when the president made clear his strategic commitment to working to achieve Middle East peace. These latest moves are intended to achieve concrete results.
Mitchell and Barak have been trying to agree a delicate compromise on freezing Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank – a hot potato in Israeli domestic politics but vital if Arab countries are to take any steps, at the urging of the US, to “normalise” relations with Israel.
Netanyahu has pledged not to build new outposts or expropriate territory in the West Bank. But he insists construction must continue to accommodate “natural” Jewish population growth. The precise definition of a moratorium has yet to be agreed, though Israeli officials speak of exempting 2,500 housing units that are still being built. Palestinians and Arabs say a total freeze is the minimum required and accuse Netanyahu of bad faith.
Mitchell is also due to see Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, at his Ramallah headquarters.
In London, meanwhile, the all-party Commons foreign affairs committee urged the British government to talk to moderates within Hamas. Russia is the only member of the Quartet of Middle East peace brokers – which also comprises the US, UN and EU – which talks to Hamas. “We conclude that there continue to be few signs that the current policy of non-engagement is achieving the Quartet’s stated objectives,” the committee said. “The credible peace process for which the Quartet hopes, as part of its strategy for undercutting Hamas, is likely to be difficult to achieve without greater co-operation from Hamas itself.”
Israel remains implacably opposed to any dealings with Hamas, but pressure has been growing elsewhere for change. In March, Britain changed tack by announcing that it would end its boycott of the political wing of Lebanon’s Iranian-backed Hezbollah – which is represented in the Lebanese parliament – but it remains opposed to talking to the Palestinian group.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Obama envoy in Syria for peace talks
July 26th, 2009 |
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US special envoy George Mitchell tells Syrian president that US wants ‘truly comprehensive’ Arab-Israeli deal
The White House will step up efforts to revive the near-moribund Middle East peace process this week, with senior Obama administration officials deployed to seek progress between Israel, Syria and the Palestinians.
George Mitchell, the president’s special envoy, flew to Tel Aviv today after “candid and positive” talks in Damascus with President Bashar al-Assad, who is being wooed by Obama after being shunned by the Bush administration. Mitchell went straight into a meeting with Ehud Barak, Israel’s defence minister.
The US envoy said restarting talks between Israel and Syria was a “near-term goal” for Washington. “I told President Assad that President Obama is determined to facilitate a truly comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace,” he told reporters.
Indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel, mediated by Turkey and centred on the occupied Golan Heights, were suspended during Israel’s offensive against the Gaza Strip in December. Turkey said earlier this month it was ready to resume mediation efforts.
But there has been no public sign from Syria that Assad has agreed to influence Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that controls Gaza, and the bitter opponent of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority. Hamas, listed as a terrorist organisation by the US and Britain, is based in Damascus.
The US is sending an ambassador back to Syria after withdrawing the previous incumbent in 2005 in protest at the Beirut assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, which was widely blamed on Damascus, despite repeated denials.
Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Muallem, said in London on Friday that Damascus – Tehran’s only Arab ally – could help find a way out of the impasse over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, complicated by domestic turmoil since last month’s disputed presidential elections.
Underlining intensifying US diplomacy in the region, the defence secretary, Robert Gates, is also due in Israel tomorrow for talks with Barak and Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, on missile defence, Iran and bilateral security issues.
General Jim Jones, Obama’s national security adviser, and Dennis Ross, a senior Middle East and Iran expert, are also due to in Israel.
The flurry of high-level activity follows Obama’s long-heralded speech to the Arab and Muslim worlds in Cairo in June, when the president made clear his strategic commitment to working to achieve Middle East peace. These latest moves are intended to achieve concrete results.
Mitchell and Barak have been trying to agree a delicate compromise on freezing Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank – a hot potato in Israeli domestic politics but vital if Arab countries are to take any steps, at the urging of the US, to “normalise” relations with Israel.
Netanyahu has pledged not to build new outposts or expropriate territory in the West Bank. But he insists construction must continue to accommodate “natural” Jewish population growth. The precise definition of a moratorium has yet to be agreed, though Israeli officials speak of exempting 2,500 housing units that are still being built. Palestinians and Arabs say a total freeze is the minimum required and accuse Netanyahu of bad faith.
Mitchell is also due to see Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, at his Ramallah headquarters.
In London, meanwhile, the all-party Commons foreign affairs committee urged the British government to talk to moderates within Hamas. Russia is the only member of the Quartet of Middle East peace brokers – which also comprises the US, UN and EU – which talks to Hamas. “We conclude that there continue to be few signs that the current policy of non-engagement is achieving the Quartet’s stated objectives,” the committee said. “The credible peace process for which the Quartet hopes, as part of its strategy for undercutting Hamas, is likely to be difficult to achieve without greater co-operation from Hamas itself.”
Israel remains implacably opposed to any dealings with Hamas, but pressure has been growing elsewhere for change. In March, Britain changed tack by announcing that it would end its boycott of the political wing of Lebanon’s Iranian-backed Hezbollah – which is represented in the Lebanese parliament – but it remains opposed to talking to the Palestinian group.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Muted opposition
July 11th, 2009 |
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By Lina Sinjab
BBC News, Damascus
In a quiet neighbourhood in the centre of Damascus Michel Kilo sits in his small flat sipping coffee as his wife shells beans for lunch.
His TV is tuned to an Arabic news channel, his reading glasses sitting on his nose as he catches the latest developments from Tehran.
Weeks after finishing a three-year prison sentence, Mr Kilo dedicates his time to family life, while the enthusiasm that characterised his writing before his arrest is now directed solely at articles focusing on pan-Arab and regional issues, rather than local ones.
In 2006, Mr Kilo and 10 other activists were arrested after signing the Damascus-Beirut declaration.
The statement, backed by Lebanese and Syrian intellectuals, called for normalising bilateral relations after decades of Syrian domination of its smaller neighbour Lebanon.
International thaw
At the time, with Syria under severe international pressure, the authorities’ tolerance of the move was very limited.
Damascus faced accusations of supporting insurgency in Iraq, and involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
But today, the situation has changed. The country is no longer isolated by the West and key Western leaders have approached Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to help stabilise the region.
The country has attracted both foreign investment as well as tourism – signs it is beginning to come in from the cold.
But the authorities show no sign of relinquishing the tight control which the Baath Party has exerted since it took power in a 1963 coup and banned all opposition.
"The priority is not to have any opposition or independent voices and it is successful in oppressing this scene," says Yassin Haj Saleh, a writer and human rights activist.
Clampdown
A campaign of arrests has left an estimated 6,000 people in jail as political prisoners.
Meanwhile, about 400-450 people are subject to official travel bans, although the real number could be in the thousands, human rights groups say.
The measures are extended to young bloggers and some internet users, as well as civil society activists and some artists.
"Civil society needs to be revived and reactivated and this is only in the hands of the authorities""
Mohannad al-Hassani
Lawyer and human rights activist
"There is a continuous deterioration in the human rights situation in Syria," says lawyer and head of Syrian Human Rights Organization Mohannad al-Hassani.
But the worst situation is suffered by the Islamists, according to Yassin Haj Saleh.
"There are many young people who are arrested for their Islamic affiliation, but they are not organised. They are mostly villagers and their families are being harassed and pressured," he says.
The crackdown has attracted little media attention, especially in suburbs and rural areas.
Last year, riots erupted in Sadnaya prison. A number of prisoners were reported killed. The government said then the prisoners were Islamists.
Human Rights Watch recently called on the Syrian government to provide information on the incident.
"The Syrian government should end the anguish of the prisoners’ families, disclose the names of those injured or killed, and immediately grant them access to their loved ones," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
‘Lack of vision’
There is no organised opposition in Syria, just individuals who oppose government policies.
And even these figures are fragmented and lack vision says Omar Amirallai, an intellectual and filmmaker.
"The opposition in Syria is in need of self-criticism, reform and reconciliation," he says.
But others believe that even with more vision and organisation, their efforts will come to nothing under current government restrictions.
The streets of Damascus have the feel of a relaxed and bustling city.
Around cafe and restaurant tables, discussions are heated about global and regional politics – but no one talks about the political situation in Syria.
Mohannad al-Hassani believes the country should embrace international and regional changes with its own progress on the level of civil and human rights.
"Civil society needs to be revived and reactivated and this is only in the hands of the authorities.
"They should look into these needs seriously as it is difficult for Syria to continue in isolation from what the whole world is moving towards."</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.