Sarkozy's Play For Mideast Peacemaker

Syria's President, Believing U.S. "Not Capable" Of Making Peace, Turns To France For Jump-Starting Talks

(CBS)  This report was written by CBS News' George Baghdadi, traveling with the Syrian President in Paris.

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French President Nicola Sarkozy is holding a rare meeting with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Saturday, believing he can secure a role for France in the ever-elusive quest for peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors before a new U.S. administration takes office.

Relations between France and Syria have been strained since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a February 2005 bombing in Beirut, blamed widely on Damascus.

Paris decided to shun Syrian officials after the murder, particularly in light of then-French President Jacques Chirac's strong personal ties to Hariri.

Syria has consistently denied any involvement in the killing.

Sarkozy opened up to Damascus for believing that his moves and his friendship with the Jewish state will open doors for him. He trusts that Assad would pay him back as he crosses the gates of the Elysee Presidential Palace, a political extravaganza that could possibly signal the beginning of the end of Syria's isolation.

After the set of talks, the Syrian leader will take part in a summit Sunday marking the launch of the Mediterranean Union, which will gather some 40 European and Mediterranean leaders in bids to boost cooperation between the European Union and Mediterranean rim states.

Most significantly, perhaps, Sarkozy's Mediterranean Union initiative will mark the first time a Syrian president has ever sat at the same table as an Israeli delegation (although there will be no handshakes or souvenir photos for the participants).

Assad, accompanied by his wife Asma and several of his ministers, will stay in Paris after the summit for France's Bastille Day celebrations. He will watch the massive military parade pass from the iconic Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde - his very presence truly unthinkable only a few weeks ago.

Syrian official sources told CBS News that Sarkozy was making plans to fly to Damascus next month to further ties with a country that was a former French colony. Syria may represent Paris' greatest possible sphere of influence in the Middle East.

Indeed, with U.S. mediation efforts in the Arab-Israeli conflict faltering, France could be striking at an opportune moment as it heads the rotating presidency of the E.U.

In an interview with the French daily Le Monde on Wednesday, Assad welcomed the French "break," and said Syria was not prepared to offer any concessions to this U.S. administration.

"Frankly, we do not think that the current American administration is capable of making peace. It doesn't have either the will or the vision, and it only has a few months left," he said.

Politically, Sarkozy seems confident that by extending his hand to Damascus, he would eventually succeed in distancing Syria from Iran; the West's key foe in the region.

"The French leader has realized that global isolation and dealing with Syria as an axis-of-evil country has turned to be more harming," said political analyst Thabet Salem. "It brought Syria closer to Iran and made it more dependent on Tehran's economic and political support."

Economic considerations are likely to have played an important part in France's openness and in Syria's recent push for international respectability, which has included inviting the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit Syria and examine U.S. claims that the building bombed by Israel last September was intended to house a covert nuclear reactor. Most significantly, it agreed to hold indirect, Turkish-mediated talks with Israel after an eight-year freeze. The talks are expected to be upgraded soon to face-to-face negotiations, and Sarkozy seemingly wants to move fast to get a credit.

The last direct talks - between then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara - stalled in 2000 in a dispute over how much of the Golan Heights (which Israel captured in a 1967 war) should go back to Syria.

"The benefits for Mr. Sarkozy would also fasten down the prospect of major commercial deals: A French consultant is working on engineering designs for the Damascus metro, a project that would appear to be tailor-made for French contractors, and the Toulouse-based Airbus Industrie could be in line for a contract to re-equip Syria's national airline, whose fleet is now down to just six serviceable aircraft," according to Marwan Qablan, a Syrian political analyst.

"Resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict has always been beyond France's capability, let alone its interests," Oablan added. "The Barcelona process failed mainly because of the tension and lack of trust between the Arabs and Israel. The Mediterranean project might act as a catalyst to increasing European involvement to resolve the conflict; and from Sarkozy's point of view protect Israel."

[factsearcher]

You guys/gals are turly something.
If someone is working for peace...you label that person anti-christ because hes not against israel or palestine or syria fot that matter.
You also complain why are they getting involved-someone said who plocaimed Sarkozky the ambassador...nobody has to... he can see beyond the valley of hatred... and business opportunity too.
What some of you...mostly from the middle east... want is war and hatred and destruction.
Will see what happens in November in US... that person could also be another Sarkozky..

[bedwetter777]

Nobody''''s afraid of peace. It''''s what everyone wants. ---Posted by CBS_Monitor1 at 03:50 PM
Yet you label people who work for peace in the mid-east "the anti-Christ." You are seemingly unable to comprehend that your Biblical interpretations are fallible and not fact. For instance, just because a group of people label a their country Israel doesn''t mean that that is the nation of Israel that the Bible is talking about. People can''t call themselves the nation of Israel as only God judges whose heart is pure enough for that label. So the nation of Israel (Israel is a name that means "walks with God". God is love, so "walks with love" is another way to define Israel) is the group of people that "walk with God." Since there are people who love (walk with love) in all nations the Biblical nation of Israel is not a literal country.

[cbs_monitor1]

You know I heard another Religious Fanatic say that once... it was 1964 in Selma Alabama... he was wearing a Hood and Sheet!
posted by MCVet

The KKK is evil. So are Nazi''s and any other death cult. Your sick obsession with these 2 groups (which you bring up in daarrn near every post on these forums, makes me wonder if you might be affiliated with these to evil groups yourself.

[cbs_monitor1]

). Your faulty Biblical interpretations will cause you to be at direct odds with the teachings of Jesus and you may find yourself supporting very anti-peace and anti-Christ leaders.
Posted by bedwetter777 at 02:22 PM : Jul 12, 2008

The anti-Christ will usher in a false peace. And the Bible warns about this. Only Christ will bring peace. You can''t have peace without justice, and Christ will be the final justice for the earth as He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and the Judge of all Creation

[cbs_monitor1]

I think that your literal Bible interpretations are in error and will have the effect of making you afraid of peace
posted by betwetter777

Nobody''s afraid of peace. It''s what everyone wants. But peace only comes through the Lord Jesus Christ. And He will see to it that it happens when He defeats the enemies of ISrael and ends all wars on this planet when it'' said and done. You''ll see a false peace in the middle east for 7 years . Can''t say you weren''t warned.

[bedwetter777]

The anti-Christ will be the only one in history to usher in a "peace" between the Muslim Arabs and Israel. This "covenant" will be set for 7 years. When this person does this, this world leader, know that he is the anti-Christ folks. The anti-Christ will be able to use this "false peace" to deceive the world and make the world believe he is God in person.-CBS_Monitor1 at 08:26 AM : Jul 12, 2008
--------------------------------------------
I think that your literal Bible interpretations are in error and will have the effect of making you afraid of peace. You will support despots who bring war just because you''ll reason that war-bringers can''t be the anti-Christ. But Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). Your faulty Biblical interpretations will cause you to be at direct odds with the teachings of Jesus and you may find yourself supporting very anti-peace and anti-Christ leaders.

[mcvet]

Your god, satan, doesn''''t answer prayers.

Posted by CBS_Monitor1 at 10:25 AM : Jul 12, 2008

You know I heard another Religious Fanatic say that once... it was 1964 in Selma Alabama... he was wearing a Hood and Sheet! Wonder if he and all those Born again Christian''s who were with him all went to Heaven?? What do you think?! Sieg Heil Grand Wizard!!

[mcvet]

Spoken like a true lost soul jihadist appeasing deranged liberal. Ahmadenijad and all other Muslim fundamentalist maniacs worldwide are proud of you.

Posted by CBS_Monitor1 at 10:24 AM : Jul 12, 2008


How so?? The people who attacked us are all nice and safe in a Safe Haven created by Heir Bush! SEVEN years after the attack on this nation our Intel tells us they and the Taliban are as strong as ever. Our military is extended to it''s limits with some troops having completed 4 tours in Iraq. We have spent OVER a TRILLION dollars fighting Bush''s "front" on Terror only to find out it was a complete and total FRAUD!! Sparky I can''t see how ANY sane person would even think Bush has caused the "Jihadist" any trouble at all. In fact IF I were one of them, I''d be praying for another just like him. Now lets let the Fuhrer and Shooter Cheney know you''re out licking those boots today!! Shout it out!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!!

[cbs_monitor1]

I pray for your soul now.


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Posted by FloydZepp2

Your god, satan, doesn''t answer prayers.

[cbs_monitor1]

Bush---the Judas of America--the American terrorist, may the rest of your life become the heII you have created.


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Posted by liberalme

Spoken like a true lost soul jihadist appeasing deranged liberal. Ahmadenijad and all other Muslim fundamentalist maniacs worldwide are proud of you.

[whitemale08]

Of course Syria is going to look to France.

The U.S. is not even an ecnomic superepower anymore.

And Sooon after a 100 years of war and ocupation, it won''t be a military superpower either.

As a matter of fact we already are neither because all of our military is either in N.A.T.O. protecting the European oligarchy and monarchy from their own New World Order citizens or destroying itself in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thx...Republicans.

[floydzepp2]

Notice how Cheney and crawled back into the woodwork again? Never hear from him unless he''s manipulating the Shrub Puppet.

[floydzepp2]

-sorry fz2, my Parkinson doesn''''t help this morning!

Posted by trishab4 at 08:57 AM : Jul 12, 2008
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My apologies. I am very sorry!

Floyd

[liberalme]

"Frankly, we do not think that the current American administration is capable of making peace. It doesn''t have either the will or the vision, and it only has a few months left," he said.

How true is that! That little "world leader wanna be" in the White House, who was to big a coward (the only thing he''s ever been big on) to do his military duty, has USED our troops to do his dirty work.
He is a pompus idiot who never wanted peace and walks around as the big "I am".

At the least Sarkozy is displaying intelligence that Bush isn''t capable of.

Bush---the Judas of America--the American terrorist, may the rest of your life become the heII you have created.

[trishab4]

Posted by trishab4 at 08:39 AM : Jul 12, 2008
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How many times are you gonna post this? You are as bad as a RINOpublican.
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Posted by FloydZepp2 at 08:44 AM : Jul 12, 2008

-sorry fz2, my Parkinson doesn''t help this morning!

[trishab4]

Posted by trishab4 at 08:39 AM : Jul 12, 2008
---------

How many times are you gonna post this? You are as bad as a RINOpublican.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by FloydZepp2 at 08:44 AM : Jul 12, 2008

-sorry fz2, my Parkinson doesn''t help this morning!

[floydzepp2]

Posted by trishab4 at 08:39 AM : Jul 12, 2008
---------

How many times are you gonna post this? You are as bad as a RINOpublican.

[trishab4]

CBS: In an interview with the French daily Le Monde on Wednesday, Assad welcomed the French "break," and said Syria was not prepared to offer any concessions to this U.S. administration.
"Frankly, we do not think that the current American administration is capable of making peace. It doesn''t have either the will or the vision, and it only has a few months left," he said

-We frankly do believe this AIPAC-lead monkey in the WhiteHouse is not fit for making peAce-of-sh*t whatsoever! He is only a monkey in the hands of AIPAC and nut-rightwing Conservatives of America. Worst of all, he''s not even a good monkey!

The US presidency has been hijacked by the AIPAC and Israel-First traitors!

-I''m happy Sarkozy moved on to take back the French influence in the Middle-East. A removal of Jacques ChIraq (French former president) gave a better image to France and I wish the same would happen here in Washington, with the removal of rotten Bush/Cheney thievery high-counsel, and prevention of continuation of same old with McSenile...

[trishab4]

CBS: In an interview with the French daily Le Monde on Wednesday, Assad welcomed the French "break," and said Syria was not prepared to offer any concessions to this U.S. administration.
"Frankly, we do not think that the current American administration is capable of making peace. It doesn''t have either the will or the vision, and it only has a few months left," he said

-We frankly do believe this AIPAC-lead monkey in the WhiteHouse is not fit for making peAce-of-sh*t whatsoever! He is only a monkey in the hands of AIPAC and nut-rightwing Conservatives of America. Worst of all, he''s not even a good monkey!

The US presidency has been hijacked by the AIPAC and Israel-First traitors!

-I''m happy Sarkozy moved on to take back the French influence in the Middle-East. A removal of Jacques ChIraq (French former president) gave a better image to France and I wish the same would happen here in Washington, with the removal of rotten Bush/Cheney thievery high-counsel, and prevention of continuation of same old with McSenile...

[trishab4]

CBS: In an interview with the French daily Le Monde on Wednesday, Assad welcomed the French "break," and said Syria was not prepared to offer any concessions to this U.S. administration.
"Frankly, we do not think that the current American administration is capable of making peace. It doesn''t have either the will or the vision, and it only has a few months left," he said

-We frankly do believe this AIPAC-lead monkey in the WhiteHouse is not fit for making peAce-of-sh*t whatsoever! He is only a monkey in the hands of AIPAC and nut-rightwing Conservatives of America. Worst of all, he''s not even a good monkey!

The US presidency has been hijacked by the AIPAC and Israel-First traitors!

-I''m happy Sarkozy moved on to take back the French influence in the Middle-East. A removal of Jacques ChIraq (French former president) gave a better image to France and I wish the same would happen here in Washington, with the removal of rotten Bush/Cheney thievery high-counsel, and prevention of continuation of same old with McSenile...