DAMASCUS, 28 October 2005 — Syria issued an appeal yesterday for dialogue with the United States as the UN Security Council mulled a strong response to its implication by a UN inquiry into former Lebanese Premier Rafiq Hariri’s murder.
“It’s time for dialogue, which must take precedence over the use of force,” said an editorial in the official daily Al-Thawra.
“The language of pressure and threats used by US President George Bush and his Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are closing off the avenues for dialogue even though there are many points on which agreement is possible,” said the commentary, signed by editor Faisal Al-Sayegh, who is considered close to the corridors of power. “This is not the time for the use of force, which has proved a failure in other parts of the world but the time for dialogue... because Syrians and Americans have a lot in common and the American people are a friendly people.”
State newspapers on Wednesday took comfort from Russia’s stated opposition to UN sanctions against Syria. “Russia will not allow the imposing of sanctions on Syria,” was the lead headline in the official press.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that Moscow which has veto power at the Security Council was opposed to sanctions, while his spokesman said it would “do everything necessary” to block any such measure. The calls for dialogue were echoed in a meeting between Expatriate Affairs Minister Boutheina Shaaban and a visiting US delegation from the Presbyterian Church reported by official dailies.
