"Russia seeks to host '08 peace talks on Mideast" by Brian Knowlton/International Herald Tribune | November 30, 2007
WASHINGTON - Russia, with at least tacit American support, hopes to host a follow-up Middle East peace conference sometime in early 2008, with a goal of establishing direct Israeli-Syrian negotiations to resolve the long-standing Golan Heights dispute.
"It is our hope that we can revive the Syrian track in Moscow," the Syrian deputy foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, told The Washington Post in an interview Wednesday after the international peace conference in Annapolis, Md. The Post quoted diplomats from the United States, Russia, and several other countries on the proposed follow-up conference.
Both Israeli and US officials questioned whether the time was ripe for an Israeli-Syrian solution. Both are concerned by the Syrian role in Lebanon and Damascus's support for Hezbollah and Hamas militants, and the United States has complained that Syria has not kept militants from entering Iraq. But both also said that they had no objection to exploring any possibilities raised by the conference.
Yeah, Syria only absorbed about 2 million Iraqi refugees, but they got no credit for nuthin'!!!!!!
USrael has to be one of the most UNGRATEFUL ENTITIES that EVER EXISTED!
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel said that Syria must end its support for Hezbollah, with which Israel fought a war last year, before "meaningful dialogue" would be possible, The Post reported.
But Olmert said the decision by Damascus to take part in Annapolis might point to a significant rethinking by Syrian leaders.
The presence of the Syrian deputy foreign minister, Mekdad, was viewed in positive terms, said Sean McCormack, the State Department spokesman.
Yeah, whatever looks good for Israel, that's the spin that USrael and her pimping government and MSM will provide you with, Amurkns!
"I think most people listening to the comments of the deputy foreign minister in the session, that last session, most people would say that they were constructive comments, they added to the discussion," he said.
McCormack said that while the United States expected progress first on the Israeli-Palestinian track, it would encourage all sides "to take advantage of any potential openings that they see."
Update: Russia pulls out of Nato arms pact
"Folks, sooner or later the Neocon agenda will result in war between the United States and Russia, and that is EXACTLY what Israel wants. Russia has kicked out the oligarchs, and Israel's control over the US is on the wane, so their plan appears to be to trick the US and Russia into a mutually destructive war which will leave Israel and their nuclear arsenal in control of the world's remaining easily reachable oil.
The only thing that will stop WWIII is YOU. -- Mike Rivero, What Really Happened
We are trying like hell, sir!
