SHARM EL-SHEIKH The Syrian President, Mr Hafez al-Assad, said yesterday that the doors to peace are closed because of Israel's policies, Siona Jenkins reports.
What we see now does not make the Arabs think that the doors to peace are open," he said. "The statements and actions of the Israeli government don't give the impression that we are moving towards peace. So far, the doors to peace remain closed."
Mr Assad was speaking after a meeting with the Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak, in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, site of last year's Summit of Peacemakers, in which Arab, Israeli and international leaders gathered in a show of support for the peace process.
Mr Assad also used the occasion to respond to Israeli reports that Syria was making a lethal nerve gas. "He who has nuclear weapons has no right to criticise others for whatever weapons they have. If they (Israel) want disarmament let's start with nuclear weapons," he said.
Yesterday's meeting was the latest in a flurry of talks between Arab leaders, leading to speculation that an Arab summit to push forward the peace process is imminent.
Mr Mubarak, who has spearheaded the diplomatic efforts, offered last week to hold an Arab mini-summit involving King Hussein of Jordan, the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, and Mr Assad - on condition that Israel was willing to take steps of its own to end the current impasse in the peace process.