Christopher Meets Assad to Discuss Israeli Proposals

Secretary of State Warren Christopher met with Syrian President Hafez Assad on Saturday to discuss Israeli proposals to break a deadlock in peace talks between the two nations.

Christopher delivered to Assad a proposal for Israel to withdraw in stages from the strategic Golan Heights and security plans to ensure that the area is not used for attacks on Israeli villages.

Christopher also carried a list of complaints.

They included U.S. allegations that Syria is looking the other way on drug trafficking in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and concern about increased counterfeiting of $100 bills in Syria.

Also on Christopher’s list of issues were two perennial topics--terrorism and human rights.

Details of the nearly three-hour meeting were not available.

After midnight, Syria informed the U.S. delegation that Assad will give Christopher “some ideas” of his own late today.

Christopher is also seeking a detailed account from Assad of a new arms deal concluded last week with Russia.

Christopher wants to know if Syria will be getting missiles from Moscow and if so, of what range.