US to Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority chairman Yassir Arafat: Present new ideas for advancing negotiations, before we intervene.
Syria today warned Israel that it would "pay very dearly for the few metres of Syrian soil that it refuses to return". Syria noted that it is prepared to wait years, in order to recover all of its lands.
"The few metres of Syrian soil that the Barak government refuses to give back will cost it dearly. Barak's government will bear the price and the responsibility for the death of the peace process", wrote Syrian government organ "Al Baath".
The newspaper also criticises the "US administration team that adopted the stance of the Barak government". "The US has chosen to relinquish the peace process. It has become a means of pressure in the hands of the Barak government, while waiving its role as broker", the writer concluded.
Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman James Rubin said the US was asking Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority chief Yassir Arafat to present new ideas to overcome the obstacles on the road to the permanent status framework agreement, before Washington becomes more deeply involve in the process.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 13 April, 2000