Syria’s Ambassador to France said today that a new war in the Middle East is “imminent” and accused Israel and the United States of “plotting ” an attack on Syria.
Ambassador Yussuf Chakur, a former Syrian army Chief of Staff, also said that the Israeli-Lebanese agreement of May 17 is jeopardizing Syria’s basic security.
The envoy, who addressed a press conference said, “Syria is made to appear like the bad guy in the withdrawal process. Actually, Syria is ready to withdraw its forces from Lebanon as soon as Israel carries out an unconditional evacuation of its own troops and does nothing to affect Lebanon’s independence and territorial integrity. “
Chakur revealed that 4,500 Syrian soldiers including 90 pilots were killed during last June’s brief fighting in Lebanon. He said “Syria wants to avoid a new war but without compromising its security and independence. ” He claimed that the Israeli-Lebanese agreement threatens Syria’s security as it provides for the presence of Israeli forces in a security zone in southern Lebanon only 15 miles from Damascus.
EUROPEANS BLAME SYRIA
West European governments and public opinion increasingly tend to blame Syria for the stalemate in the withdrawal process from Lebanon. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Arens, due here tomorrow, is expected to hammer home during his meetings with French ministers and top aides, the scope of Israeli concessions and to stress Syria’s direct responsibility in the current crisis.
Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir, currently on an official visit to Luxemburg, Belgium and Italy, is trying to obtain West European diplomatic pressure on Damascus for the evacuation of Syrian troops stationed in the Bekaa valley.
Arens, officially the guest of the Paris Air Show and French Defense Minister Charles Hernu, will visit the Israeli pavillion tomorrow afternoon. On Thursday he will confer with a number of French ministers and other top Presidential aides. He will return to Israel Friday shortening his trip by two days because of the tense political situation in Lebanon.
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