Although former Assistant Secretary of State Richard Murphy said that he believed that the transfer of power from Hafez to Bashar has changed Syrian policies, he didn’t believe that these changes would apply to the Golan Heights. He believed that Hafez’s demand to Bashar from the grave would be for Israel’s total withdrawal from the Golan Heights. With regard to the Lebanese elections, Murphy said that he believed that Syria was giving the Lebanese space to make their own decisions. He added, however, that when it came to Syria’s security, its government could never allow Lebanon to become a corridor for forces that would threaten Syria’s stability. Here is the final installment in a three-part Albawaba series that features Richard Murphy’s views on the Middle East.
Q. The US seems to have hesitated in showing support for Bashar Al-Assad while France has given him full support. How does US regard Bashar Al-Assad?
A. I believe that the move from Hafez to Bashar Al-Assad has changed policy in Syria and Damascus. But Hafez’s demand to Bashar from the grave is that there should be a total withdrawal to the line of June 4th, 1967. That’s what we’ve seen, but so far, nothing has surfaced of course. I think it’s a tragedy that what I saw as the breakthrough last March, when Barak (Israeli Prime Minister Ehud) put on the table withdrawal not just from the Golan Heights, but down to 100 meters of Galilee, did not produce positive results. The answer was just no, as I understand it. The negotiations ended, and the meeting was a failure. The Syrian-Israeli negotiations will be difficult but the details of security arrangements are all negotiable and “doable”. When you compare them with the Palestinian question, they are far simpler. One of these days, there will be a Syrian-Israeli agreement, and when that process gets moving again, I’m sure you will see Beirut feeling that it can move into negotiations as well.
Q. What are your comments on the (Lebanese) elections and their results?
A. The elections showed, I guess, a trend that started before Bashar became president – the trend to pull back. I think the Syrians decided that this was necessary and that it wasn’t much fun (continuing with their former policies). It is my understanding that (the electorate) looked at the individual candidate’s failures and successes but some known to be very pro-Syria lost. The glass may still be half full, but it’s going down. I think Syria is giving the Lebanese space to make their own decisions in all matters except security. This is because Syria has for years insisted that it doesn’t want Lebanon to become a corridor again for elements that could threaten Syria. By that, they mean both a military threat coming up the back way from the Bekaa from Israel, if you will, or a threat as a base for espionage and plotting against Syria.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
