A delegation of Russians, Americans and representatives of several Arab states reportedly will travel to Damascus to try to persuade Syria to take part in the series of multilateral talks on Middle East regional issues that it has boycotted until now.
Plans for the mission emerged here Monday after a meeting between Russia’s visiting Middle East envoy, Viktor Posavaliuk, and Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin.
In a meeting earlier with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Posavaliuk conveyed a message from Russian President Boris Yeltsin affirming Russia’s desire to be more closely associated with the peace process.
Russia is a co-sponsor of the multilateral talks, as well as the bilateral talks Israel has conducted with Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinians.
The Russian reported to his hosts on his impressions of Syria and the newly autonomous district of Jericho in the West Bank, which he visited. The Palestinian police, he said, are determined to succeed in keeping exemplary law and order in the 24-square-mile autonomous zone.
Posavaliuk also said he is convinced that both Syrian President Hafez Assad and the Syrian people are interested in peace with Israel.
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