Assad to Lavrov: Russia's ME summit to succeed only if goals are set out
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Published: MAY 24, 2009 16:56
Russia's planned international Middle East peace conference will succeed only if it is well-prepared, Syrian President Bashar Assad told visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday, AFP reported.
Official Syrian news agency SANA said Lavrov briefed Assad on Moscow's plan to "organize a conference on the Middle East in order to discuss the peace process."
The Syrian president reportedly responded that "the conference must be well-prepared" and stressed the importance of setting out "objectives as well as the positions of those parties concerned" in the Israeli-Arab conflict.
Assad also said it was important to know "the extent of Israel's commitment to achieve a just and comprehensive peace," SANA reported.
