French president Jacques Chirac met Thursday with Syrian vice-president Abdelhalim Khaddam for talks on the latest tension surrounding the Iraqi issue and also to discuss the stalled middle east peace process.
Leaving the meeting, the Syrian leader told the press that he and Chirac had reviewed all important issues and that “their views were close and convergent” on these questions.
Khaddam said that Syria would like to see a stronger role for France in the region and he noted appreciation for Chiracs policies in the middle east.
On the subject of the middle east peace, the Syrian official said,” our view is that only peace based on international legality can bring stability and security for all.” Asked about the potential for a military strike against Iraq, Khaddam said that this could have “disastrous consequences” not just for the middle east, but also in other areas.
He said his discussions with Chirac showed that the French and Syrian views on the Iraqi question were “identical” and Khaddam further said that the question of U.N. Weapons inspections must be settled between Iraq and the United Nations.
The goal must be “to ensure security and stability in the region and spare Iraq of any military operation,” the Syrian official said.
“We must spare Iraq any military operation because a military operation against Iraq would have disastrous consequences not only for Iraq but also for all the region and beyond,” Khaddam said.
President Chirac last week made a clear statement of his position on a potential strike against Iraq, saying that while inspectors must go back as soon as possible, any strike against Iraq must have he support and authorization of the U.N. Security Council.ك
