Ambassador: Syria wants to stay out of conflict

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Syria wants to stay out of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon and is trying to restrain Hizbullah from firing missiles into northern Israel, the country's ambassador to London told the British Broadcasting Corp. on Friday. "Syria does not wish at all to be involved in the conflict," Ambassador Sami Khiyami said. "It's really seeking to ease down tensions and to reach a settlement that would stop completely the violence. "The most important thing today is to concentrate on stopping the violence, on negotiating exchange of prisoners and on devising ways and means to bring peace to this poor Middle East." Khiyami was asked if Syria had told Hizbullah to stop firing missiles at Israel. He replied, "of course" and said that while Hizbullah was a "completely independent" movement, Syria has "good relations" with it.