![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.edweek.org\/edweek\/thisweekineducation\/upload\/2007\/07\/remember_john_kerry\/John%20Kerry%20Damascus.jpg\")
Kerry’s visit to Damascus has inspired Syria to put its best foot forward. Ahmed Salkini’s OpEd (copied below) expresses Syria’s eagerness to meet the US half way. “When peace is achieved,” he writes, “the cause for resistance vanishes.”<\/p>\nKerry’s visit to Damascus has inspired Syria to put its best foot forward. Ahmed Salkini’s OpEd (copied below) expresses Syria’s eagerness to meet the US half way. “When peace is achieved,” he writes, “the cause for resistance vanishes.”<\/p>\n
Bashar al-Assad is also working on a rapprochement with Egypt in order to forge greater agreement on the Palestinian issue. He will travel to Cairo soon, according to the Egyptian paper Al-Masriyun<\/em>.<\/p>\n John Kerry is playing a key role in keeping engagement with Syria on track. He reiterated in Damascus that “engagement with Syria is a priority at the highest levels of our government.” Syria’s importance has been underscored by its improving relations with Iraq and Lebanon. Junblatt’s visit to Damascus is only one manifestation of the growing consensus in Beirut that good relations with Damascus will be crucial factor in to Lebanon’s future.<\/p>\n Iraqi politicians have also been canvasing Damascus for support and improved relations as we saw with the visit of senior Sadrists to Syria.\u00a0 President Assad is keen on cultivating good relations with the next government in Baghdad with an eye to pushing forward with economic planning between the two countries, particularly in breaking ground for the new oil pipeline. If Maliki is able to keep his seat at the helm of the Daawa Party and form the next Iraqi government, Damascus will have been dealt a blow. Maliki does not like Syria and relations with Iraq have only deteriorated over the last year of his government. The Syrian government has long supported Iyad Allawi who is pro-Baathist, secular and stands for strong central government in Iraq. The chances of Allawi being able to form a government seem slim indeed. Finding partners to form a solid coalition will be very difficult for Allawi, whose support for Sunni Baathists annoys many Shiites. He was also a close collaborator with the CIA during his years in exile.<\/p>\n As always, the key story in Syria is the economy. Syria is undergoing an intense period of reform. Never has it been more open to new ideas. Dardari is pushing briskly ahead with economic legal reform. He plans $130 billion in investment over the next five years, most coming from the private sector. The aim is to promote %8 growth. The government will have to lower interest rates and allow the currency to drop in value before it reaches growth figures close to %8.\u00a0 The Ministry of Finance will also have to create a bond market, which it is resisting.<\/p>\n Salkini<\/p><\/div>\n “Facts are stubborn things<\/a>” As the confirmation of Robert Ford for the post of Ambassador to Syria goes through its due process, it is a propitious moment to examine the premises of the Syrian-US dialogue. While we have certain undeniable differences, we share common visions and common opinions – the simplest of which that neither side is under any unrealistic illusions. The road ahead will inevitably prove challenging. Yet, it is through a continuous and honest dialogue that we can overcome these challenges, because no matter our preference, we have inescapably common interests.<\/p>\n Certain skeptics have raised their voices in dissension regarding the emerging Syrian-US rapprochement. They typically ground their argument on a claim of the futility of cooperation, while evoking recent memory of tumultuous times. Yet historical and current facts stand in opposition to these skeptics’ claim. And as John Adams once said, “facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”<\/p>\n History has proven that through cooperation, much can be achieved to further both countries’ national interests. With our troops fighting and spilling blood side-by-side, we managed to liberate Kuwait in 1990. The following year, and through close coordination, we contrived the Madrid Peace Conference; although it did not bring about the much-anticipated just peace, its accords set the framework and contours for any future comprehensive peace agreement. In both occasions, it took intensive American diplomacy by an illustrious Secretary of State, James Baker, and in both cases cooperation yielded positive results. In the 1980’s through close coordination between the American, Syrian, and other Arab sides, we managed to bring an end to the bloody Lebanese civil war after years of ostensible endless fighting. Most importantly, after the heinous events of 9\/11, Syria reached out to the US in its warring efforts against Al-Qaeda with “actionable information” that “helped save American lives,” according to then-Secretary of State, Colin Powell.<\/p>\n On the other hand, what did non-engagement of recent years achieve? Its proponents in Washington have, for the most part, left their offices as they watched their goal of isolating Syria dissipate. At the time, two esteemed American statesmen who opposed that policy, Senators John Kerry (Democrat) and Chuck Hagel (Republican), put it best: “our policy of non-engagement has isolated us more than the Syrians.” This was recently echoed by a former Bush-official and current Obama-appointee, Assistant Secretary of State Jeffery Feltman: “consequently, the United States, not Syria, seems to be isolated.” On the Syrian side, we have made it abundantly clear that although we emerged unscathed from attempts to isolate us and proved that we can withstand the most prodigious pressure, unfavorable relations with the world’s superpower are not conductive to peace.<\/p>\n Admittedly, there are inexorable and philosophical differences; namely, disagreement over what constitutes a terrorist and a freedom fighter in regards to occupied Arab territories. What we see as an Arab (Christian and Muslim) fighting to liberate his occupied land, US administrations labels as a terrorist. What we see as Israeli crimes against humanity, the US sees as not. However, drowning in a vicious cycle of dogmatic arguments over definitions diverts our attention to the root cause of the problem: illegal Israeli occupation and a lack of peace. When peace is achieved, and Israeli occupation of Arab land ends, the cause for resistance vanishes. This goal of just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East is a cardinal national interest for Syria and the US -and one that is inconceivable without our cooperation.<\/p>\n We also share prime national interests in Iraq. We agree on the end goal: a unified, stable, and secure Iraq; we agree on the process: foreign troop withdrawal and a firm buttressing of Iraq’s unity and sovereignty. The ground, and frame, work are laid for trilateral cooperation on different matters, including borders. Such cooperation can facilitate US troop withdrawal and expedite Iraq’s progress.<\/p>\n Prudence and realism dictate the imperative of setting-aside our specific differences and setting our eyes on the larger picture. No one party can address the myriad issues facing our region, from achieving peace to bringing full security and stability to Iraq. It is only through a concerted and inclusive effort that we can further our mutual goals. This process should be grounded in mutual respect and understanding, as has been stressed by Presidents Assad and Obama. Syria’s position is unequivocal in rejecting a language of dictation. Those who came to Damascus with a list of demands and no reciprocity, returned empty-handed. Those who come with a vision for peace, stability, and cooperation will find a warm, embracing, welcome.<\/p>\n Our road ahead will not be paved solely by success. Doubters and parasites will persist in their efforts to undermine ours. But we must always remember, pursuing our respective interest dictates that we persevere. We have no choice -facts are simply “stubborn things.”<\/p>\n Author’s Bio: Ahmed Salkini is the Spokesperson of the Syrian Embassy in Washington and a political adviser to the Ambassador.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Kerry: Syria is committed to Mideast peace <\/a> Kerry: Obama wants to engage Syria as key peace player DAMASCUS – President Barack Obama’s administration considers Syria a key player in Washington’s efforts to revive the stalled Middle East peace process, US Senator John Kerry said in Damascus on Thursday.<\/p>\n “Syria is an essential player in bringing peace and stability to the region,” Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a speech after meeting President Bashar al-Assad. “Both the United States and Syria have a very deep interest… in having a very frank exchange on any differences (and) agreements that we have about the possibilities of peace in this region,” he said in the statement.<\/p>\n A summit of Arab leaders last weekend ruled out renewed Palestinian-Israeli peace talks unless the Jewish state halts all settlement building, particularly in annexed Arab east Jerusalem.<\/p>\n “There are things that the United States can do, there are things that Syria can do, there are things that Israel can do, Turkey can do, some are unilateral, some are multilateral,” Kerry said. “But all of us have to work together in order to seize real opportunities.” Obama’s administration has pursued a year-long campaign to engage Syria, a former US foe, and energise its thwarted push for a broad Arab-Israeli peace, particularly between Israel and the Palestinians.<\/p>\n Its decision in February to appoint the first US ambassador to Damascus in five years was “evidence that engagement with Syria is a priority at the highest levels of our government,” said the former US presidential candidate. Envoy Robert Ford is still awaiting US confirmation of his new post, but “he will be an excellent representative of the president’s policies and an outstanding envoy to the Syrian government,” Kerry said.<\/p>\n He also called on Syria to play a role to halt the supply of weapons to Lebanon’s Shiite militant group Hezbollah. “We also remain deeply concerned about the flow of weapons in this area, through this area, to Hezbollah. That is something that must stop in order to promote regional stability and security,” Kerry said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Al-Mesryoon has learned there were contacts at a high level currently ongoing between Cairo and Damascus in preparation for the first visit in over four years of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Egypt to wish President Hosni Mubarak well following his gallbladder surgery and to turn the page of tensions which affected the relations between the two commands due to the disputes over the Lebanese dossier. Diplomatic sources thus mentioned that President Al-Assad\u2019s visit was expected next week in case the arrangements for it are completed and in case an agreement is reached over the dossiers which will be addressed during the anticipated meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cThey also added that there were preparations underway for a visit which will be conducted by President Mubarak to Damascus in the next few coming months, considering that this visit will constitute an announcement of the resumption of the relations between the two countries and the end of the stalemate which had so far affected them. The sources considered that the visit [of Al-Assad] will have a positive impact on several important dossiers, especially the ones related to the peace process and the Palestinian reconciliation, since Damascus\u2019 influence over the Palestinian factions could be used to ensure the signing of the reconciliation which was massively obstructed after Fatah and Hamas had almost signed it at the end of last year.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"Salkini\"](\"http:\/\/profile.ak.fbcdn.net\/v230\/527\/8\/n504131899_9171.jpg\")
<\/a>
\nBy Ahmed Salkini, March 31, 2010
\nOPED News<\/p>\n
\nBy Middle East Online
\n01\/04\/2010 17:15<\/p>\n
\nUS senator says Syria is essential player in bringing peace, stability to Mideast region.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.hizb.org.uk\/hizb\/images\/stories\/People\/leaders\/mubarak_Assad.jpg\")
Contacts between Cairo and Damascus to secure Assad visit to Egypt…\u201d <\/strong>
\nAl-Mesryoon (Thanks to MidEastwire.com)
\nby Omar al-Qalyubi<\/p>\n