President Clinton telephoned Syrian President Hafez Assad Tuesday in an effort to accelerate Israeli-Syrian peace negotiations prior to Secretary of State Warren Christopher’s visit to the region later this week.
Clinton made “a very brief call to touch base prior to the arrival of Secretary Christopher” in Damascus, White House spokesman Michael McCurry told reporters Tuesday.
McCurry, who declined to reveal whether Clinton had any special message for Assad, said, “Progress on the Israeli-Syrian track is something the administration has been urging on both parties.”
Appearing on CNN’s “Larry King Live” on Monday night, Clinton, adding that he believes that “President Assad wants peace.”
“There are a lot of difficult stones in the road, and we may not make it, but I think we’ve got a chance,” he added.
Israel and Syria reached a procedural accord May 24 that opened the way for detailed negotiations on an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights.
Top military officials from Israel and Syria are expected to resume talks in Washington later this month after similar discussions were abruptly called off by Syria in December.
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