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Syrian leader claims accord reached on Golan Heights
Assad talks to CNN in rare U.S. media appearance
September 26, 1996
Web posted at: 10:20 p.m. EDT (0120 GMT)DAMASCUS, Syria (CNN) -- In his first interview with an American reporter in three years, Syrian President Hafez Assad told CNN that his country has reached an agreement with Israel on Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights.
However, a senior U.S. diplomat responding to his comments said the Syrian leader was "overstating" the level of accord reached on the strategic high ground, which Israel won in the 1967 Six-Day War. The two countries have been negotiating over the territory for years, but there have been public denials that any progress has been made.
Assad spoke with CNN's Rowland Evans in Damascus. The rare, exclusive interview, which took place before this week's clashes between Israelis and Palestinians, will air Saturday on CNN at 6:30 p.m. EST.
"Progress was made and achievements accomplished which became commitments by the parties and rights for them," Assad told CNN, referring to the Golan.
"Within the framework of those commitments, agreement was reached between Syria and Israel on Israeli withdrawal from the Golan up to June 4, 1967, lines," Assad said. "After that, we moved to complete discussion of the other elements of peace. And all that took place under the supervision and with the knowledge of the United States."
In contrast to Assad's comments, however, last weekend the Israeli government responded to new Syrian troop movements in Lebanon by increasing its own forces inside the Golan Heights. Observers said the move blunted hopes that Syria would soon enter an expanding Mideast peace circle.
Warns Netanyahu
During the interview, Assad issued a general note of warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he accused the new government of reneging on agreements.
"It goes without reason that the present Israeli government has to abide by an agreement reached by the former Israeli government."
"Once the results of the Israeli elections were announced, the new Israeli prime minister appeared to be obliterating all those principles and eliminating all efforts, commitments and rights. And so he canceled the peace process entirely."
Former Prime Minister Shimon Peres' Labor-led government, which Netanyahu ousted in national elections May 29, had expressed willingness for at least a partial Golan withdrawal but it was not binding on the new government in Jerusalem.
Assad recently told visiting U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter that he did not want to start from scratch in negotiations with Israel.
Assad credited the United States with helping to improve diplomatic ties between Syria and Israel, although he added: "The progress and achievement are at present stumbling."
"We know this is an election year in the U.S. and these elections absorb the efforts and time of many people -- in particular, the candidates and the thousands of their supporters."
Appears healthy
In the interview, the 65-year-old Assad appeared in good health in contrast to reports that he may be "very ill" with cancer.
Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller was cited as a source on Assad's poor health. But a spokesman for the Turkish United Nations mission denied she said Assad is dying of cancer.
"We have gotten information along those lines," Ciller said, referring to possible illness. "But we don't know if it's true or not."
An unnamed source cited Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy as the source of the reports on Assad's health.
Related stories:
- Netanyahu seeks to revive Israel-Syria talks - September 10, 1996
- Syria rejects Israeli peace talk overtures - August 7, 1996
- Netanyahu heads to Jordan for Syria talks - August 5, 1996
- Israel ready to resume peace talks with Syria - August 5, 1996
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