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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: March 5, 2006 |
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Syrian President Bashar Assad called on Hamas not to recognize Israel until it restores all the rights of Palestinians.
Assad also described in remarks carried by Syrian official news agency on Sunday that recent talks among rival Lebanese leaders were a "positive step for the return of reason" in that country.
Assad made the remarks late Saturday to representatives of 110 political parties from 15 Arab countries participating in a three-day conference.
Hamas won a surprise victory in Palestinian parliament elections and has been trying to rally Arab foreign support to form a government. Hamas has refused to recognize Israel unless it return territories it captured in the 1967 war, allows refugees to returns, release Palestinian prisoners and tears down its security wall.
"Hamas' victory is a point of strength in which we should invest to strengthen our Arab stand toward the peace process," Assad was quoted as saying by the official SANA news agency.
"Recognition is linked to the return of full rights," he said.
On Lebanon, Assad was quoted as saying that the majority of its people "favored good relations" with Syria and were "unconvinced of all that is going on."
He was referring to Beirut meeting of rival anti-Syrian and pro-Syrian Lebanese leaders who are holding weeklong talks to deal with their country's remaining problems following the end of Syrian domination.
"We will continue to support the same party which we are currently supporting, regardless of the outcome of the dialogue, and also regardless of attempts by some parties to take Lebanon to wars or to peace," Assad said. |
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