Syria Says Lebanese-Israeli Talks Likely to Resume Soon

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Shareh told Lebanon on Monday that it can expect to resume peace talks with Israel after the next Israeli-Syrian round Jan. 3.

Speaking to reporters after nearly two hours of talks with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and senior officials, Shareh said Syria would not negotiate for Lebanon but that the Arab countries would sign any peace deal with Israel in tandem.

Syria is the main power broker in Lebanon, with 35,000 troops stationed here. It maintains a firm grip on the politics of its smaller neighbor, and the countries coordinate on peacemaking.

“We expect Lebanon to join the talks in Washington very soon, probably after the second round of talks between Syria and Israel,” Shareh said.

Shareh led Syria’s delegation to Washington last week for the nation’s first peace talks with archenemy Israel in almost four years.

Lebanon, whose own peace talks with Israel stalled four years ago, was not invited.

Southern Lebanon is the last active Arab-Israeli battlefront, with guerrillas backed by Syria and Iran waging a war of attrition to end the Jewish state’s occupation of a buffer zone.

Shareh said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is serious about peace, though he cautioned against expecting a speedy settlement.

“The mood was businesslike and productive,” he said, “but when we talk about optimism and pessimism, I say it’s too early to say until we test the good intentions of the Israeli side in the next session.”