WEYMOUTH: How was your meeting with President Clinton?

AL-SHARA: I appreciate the strong commitment expressed by the president to help the parties find a way to resume peace negotiations.

Will the peace process speed up under Ehud Barak?

It was understood he would resume the peace talks with Syria from the point at which they were stopped in 1996, and endorse “the deposit” left with the Americans by [Prime Minister Yitzhak] Rabin.

What do you mean by “the deposit”?

During Rabin’s term, we achieved an agreement for a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan to the June 4, 1967, line. We also concluded a document on the principles of security arrangements. This is the deposit with which the Americans were entrusted.

But the deposit also included full peace and normalization between the two countries. What happened to the other aspects of the deal?

We are ready to talk about peaceful, normal relations. [But] Rabin knew that without the willingness of Israel to withdraw to the June 4, 1967, line, there would be no peace. When [Secretary of State Warren] Christopher told President Assad that Rabin had accepted withdrawal to the June 4, 1967, line, Assad asked, “Does this mean the return of the whole territory under the control of Syria on June 4, ‘67?” The answer was yes. Then Assad asked, “Does Rabin claim any land within the June 4, ‘67, territory?” Christopher said no.

Is acceptance of the June 4, 1967, border a prerequisite even for talks?

Yes. This is the element without which we cannot start the negotiations.

Does the June 4, 1967, border mean that Syrian sovereignty extends to the waterline of the Sea of Galilee?

Certainly.

Is it true that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu negotiated with Syria?

We never negotiated [directly] with Netanyahu. It was conveyed to us that Netanyahu was ready to negotiate with Syria and was ready to endorse the commitment given by Rabin–that is, full withdrawal from the Golan to the June 4, 1967, line.

Was it [New York businessman] Ronald Lauder who conveyed that offer?

Yes. When we asked about reconfirmation of Netanyahu’s willingness to withdraw completely from the Golan and for a map, Netanyahu didn’t deliver one to Lauder and there was no further follow on.

Is it true that an ailing President Assad wants peace to ensure his son’s succession?

No. President Assad has always wanted peace. He wants to get back our occupied land.