Assad: Israel must choose between occupation, peace

"Israel must choose between occupation and peace," Syrian President Bashar Assad said Thursday, adding that the two concepts "do not go hand in hand".

"A country cannot be an occupier and at the same time work towards achieving peace," Syria's president told reporters in Damascus during a joint press conference with his Finnish President Tarja Halonen.

"I explained our commitment to peace to (Halonen)," said Assad, "The Syrian people back the government's commitment to the peace process and its principles, particularly the 'land-for-peace' principle and the UN resolutions as a basis for the diplomatic process, which was outlined at the 1991 Madrid Conference."

"To achieve peace we need a partner on the Israeli side," the Syrian president added.

Assad faulted the Obama administration for failing to follow up its stated goal of Mideast peace with action and said time was running out.

Assad's critique comes despite US efforts to improve relations with Syria that were strained throughout much of the Bush administration.

"Until now, we have only heard headlines, but there have been no discussions with the concerned parties, including Syria," Assad said, "But what is the process that will take you from the headline to the goal?"

Assad urged Europe to take a more active role in peacemaking. "Time is not on the side of the peace process, and we must expedite matters; here is where Europe can play a role. We must work together with the European Union to make up for lost time."

'Syrian proposal shelved.' Assad and Halonen in Damascus (Photo: Reuters)

The US has urged both the Israelis and the Palestinians to resume peace talks, but the process has been hampered by Israel's refusal to suspend settlement construction in areas the Palestinians want for a future state. It has also been complicated by a rift among the two main Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah.

The Syrians want a strong American hand in Mideast peacemaking to regain territory they lost to Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.

President Barack Obama has tried to improve relations with Syria since taking office, pledging to send an ambassador back to the country for the first time in more than four years. Syria's deputy foreign minister visited Washington in September, the first such visit in about five years.

The US hopes to pull Syria away from its alliance with Iran and curtail its support for terror groups Hezbollah and Hamas that Washington deems terrorist organizations and sees as obstacles to Mideast peace.

Addressing Iranian nuclear crisis, the Syrian president said, "We have long since called for (removing) nuclear arms in the Middle East. In 2003 we submitted a proposal to the UN on this matter, but it was shelved after the superpowers did not (respond positively to it)."

As for the Palestinian issue, Assad told the press conference he supports reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah and the establishment of a unity government in Lebanon.

"We have been demanding that the siege on Gaza be lifted in the framework of the peace process," the Syrian leader said.

Associated Press contributed to the report