Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the talks he held with President Bashar al-Assad on Monday covered different issues of the Middle East.
In a joint news conference with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem at the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Gahr Store said his talks with President al-Assad and other Syrian officials were extensive and covered the situations in Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and the indirect talks between Syria and Israel to divert the course of developments into a positive direction.
Mr. Gahr Store added that prospects of making success in Lebanon and the indirect talks between Syria and Israel as well as the underway negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel—despite fragility-- and the possibility of inter-Palestinian reconciliation, all that require active participation from all the parties concerned.
He added that these issues remain important for the world peace and need world participation, therefore northern Europe countries, particularly Norway, are ready to take part.
The Norwegian Foreign Minister stressed that the contacts between Syria and his country enjoy a wide network of relations with different parties in the region, adding that Norway was ready to activate these relations if they help achieve peace in the region.
Mr. Gahr Store called on the international community, including the European Union, to support all the parties actively and urge them to work seriously to push the peace negotiations forward.
Answering a question on the possibility of Norway offering help in the indirect talks between Syria and Israel, Mr. Gahr Store said the main responsibility in these negotiations lies on the parties concerned, but for reaching peace the international community must offer help and support.
For his part, al-Moallem said his Norwegian counterpart held fruitful and constructive talks with President al-Assad, covering the situations in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Palestinian factions, the importance of achieving the Palestinian national unity.
He added the two sides also discussed the situation in Lebanon and the importance of forming a national unity government as soon as possible in implementation of Doha Agreement as well as the situation in Iraq and the necessity of achieving the national reconciliation and the agreement on the unity of Iraqi territories.
Mr. al-Moallem said there was agreement during these talks on boosting up the bilateral relations, indicating that the talks between the two sides will continue as the region is witnessing positive developments. He added that "Norway stances over the issues of the region are characterized by being objective…and I can say Norway is interested and can play a positive role for the security and stability of the region."
Answering a question on the indirect talks between Syria and Israel, Minister al-Moallem said "the current talks are preparatory to lay proper basics and elements for the launch of direct talks…and as in any negotiating process there are ups and downs…but the important thing is to keep the two sides involved in these talks until reaching this base…."
He added that the second round of talks will start soon in Turkey, and 'we hope the talks will achieve the required progress."
Replying a question on the visit by President Bashar al-Assad to France and his participation in the "Union for the Mediterranean" summit and the possibility of holding summit meetings with European leaders in addition to a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr. al-Moallem said "Syria is an important Arab Mediterranean country in the region…we hope that the visit of the President will be a prominent point whether in our relations with the European Union or in the bilateral relations between Syria and France…this is something that we are waiting to test…"
He added that "Naturally there will be a summit meeting between Presidents al-Assad and Sarkozy that covers various political issues of common interest and ways of boosting up these relations…and other meetings with leaders in Europe, including the UN Secretary General."
"The meetings which come on the sidelines of such conferences are important.. but we are waiting for tangible and practical steps from the Europeans." The Minister said.
He underlined that there is now an opportunity to achieve the just and comprehensive peace in the region, adding "we hope the Israelis will not miss it with their party disputes."
"I believe that if Israel had responded to the UN Security Council resolutions No. 242 and 338, the region would have been avoided a lot of disorders that we are witnessing today," Minister al-Moallem said.
On the latest events in north Lebanon, al-Moallem expressed hope for an end to those painful incidents in a way that guarantees security and stability of the Lebanese, underlining that the formation of Lebanese national unity is a Lebanese issue.
As for the expected visit of the Palestinian Authority President to Syria, the Foreign Minister said this visit comes in the framework of the Syrian efforts, beginning at Damascus Summit, to close the Palestinian ranks and achieve national unity.
"The Palestinian national unity is the guarantee for the Palestinian rights… Syria has contacted different Palestinian factions to get their attitudes on the way of reaching this unity… and the visit of President Mahmoud Abbas comes in this direction to brief us on the current situation of negotiations," the Foreign Minister added.
He said that President al-Assad, in his capacity as President of the Arab summit, will resume his Arab tours soon after he returns back from France.
