Media Misunderstood Assad Remarks on Israel

Media outlets in Syria have “misunderstood” President Bashar al-Assad’s recent statements about peace with Israel, according to Waddah Abd Rabboh, editor-in-chief of the pro-government newspaper Al-Watan on December 23.



Following a press conference Assad gave with visiting Croatian president Stjepan Mesic, local media began broadcasting breaking news that Assad had signaled plans to move forward to direct talks with Israel.



According to Abd Rabboh, they appear to have missed one point –Assad said there could be no direct talks unless Israel adhered to United Nations Security Council resolutions.



“It is natural that we move to direct negotiations an a later stage. Peace cannot be achieved through indirect talks alone,” Assad said at the press conference. “I have compared the peace process to the construction of a building – we first build solid foundations and then we put up the building, not vice versa. What we are doing now in indirect talks is laying the foundations of this huge building. If these foundations are a success, then the indirect negotiations will have been successful and eventually peace will be secured.”