Arab Media Watch chairman Sharif Hikmat Nashashibi and director Muna Nashashibi were part of a small delegation of journalists, academics and officials who met with Syrian Information Minister Dr. Mahdi Dakhlala on January 19 at the newly launched Syrian Media Centre in central London.
Dakhlala answered questions on Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Iraq, democracy, peace prospects, weapons of mass destruction, and US policy in the Middle East.
On prospects of Israeli/Syrian and Israeli/Palestinian peace:
"It is logical that peace has no chance with occupation. Peace is the opposite of occupation."
"Syria is ready to do anything for a just peace, but it can't make peace alone. Another party has to be ready."
"It is encouraging that Bush has said peace is on his agenda. Hopes of peace depend on pressure on Israel. How long can people in the Middle East tolerate the current situation?"
"There are occupied territories 30 miles from our capital. There are half a million displaced Syrians since 1967 living in terrible conditions, waiting to go back home."
"War is not an option for Syria. Tanks, rockets and warplanes can't achieve peace, whether in Iraq or Palestine."
"Syria is ready to start first. It has always been serious about a real, lasting peace. Rabin understood this and paid with his life."
"The issue seems complex but is actually simple. Peace could happen in two weeks. We will definitely get to a solution. Peace had a chance with Rabin."
"We are against killing civilians anywhere. Don't forget that Israel has been killing Palestinian civilians for over 50 years."
"The core issue is occupation. Palestine does not occupy Israel, but vice versa. There are 1 million Palestinians in Syria and Lebanon who can't even talk to their relatives in Palestine."
"There are no offices of Hamas or Islamic Jihad in Syria, but half a million Palestinians who have the right to express their opinions. The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine have offices, as they in Gaza and the West Bank."
"If Syria is expected to lessen Israel's concerns, Israel must do likewise. 30 miles from Damascus, the Israeli flag is hoisted on my land. This worries me and angers me. Occupation is the issue."
"There is a window of opportunity because the situation is intolerable. The world must convince Israel that peace is the better option. Syrians can't tolerate the occupation of their land forever. Peace is a necessity."
On Syrian/Lebanese relations:
"Syria and Lebanon are two peoples, two countries. Sayria has not imposed itself politically on Lebanon. Lately, there have been five redeployments in Lebanon. Further redeployments depend on Lebanese stability."
"Lebanon is an independent, sovereign state. Since 1975, Syria has shared Lebanon's situation and suffering."
On the situation in Iraq:
"Syria hasn't asked the US to leave Iraq. Syria wants the end of war and oppression."
"Syria hasn't demolished Lebanese towns or faced resistance such as in Iraq."
"We want a stable Iraq. The presence of foreign troops is an issue for Iraqis. Syria hosted a conference for Iraq's neighbours. Syria suffers with an unstable Iraq."
"We have taken measures to secure the borders with the Iraqi authorities, but they are not doing their bit."
"Syria is supplying oil, food and electricity to northern Iraq. The train link between Aleepo and Mosul is now working. It wasn't under Saddam. There are half a million Iraqis in Syria."
"There is no single factual evidence to say Syria is working against Iraqi stability. Syria was a safe haven for anti-Saddamists. Syria cannot be a safe haven for people wanting an unstable Iraq. Iraq does not need fighters from outside."
"Syria condemns civilian deaths anywhere, beheadings, bombing homes, mosques, churches, towns."
"Sometimes the US says there are insurgents in Syria, then says they have been arrested elsewhere."
"Elections are a step towards Iraqi sovereignty. They should be successful or worse will happen. All groups must participate. Iraqis can vote in Syria."
"Members of the old regime are definitely not welcome in Syria. Some have already been convicted because they helped the Muslim Brotherhood in the 1980s. In 1968, 36 years ago, Syria warned the world how dangerous the former Iraqi regime was. People didn't listen."
On democracy in Syria:
"The coalition governing Syria is made up of seven parties. The Baath Party is the largest of them."
"10,000 candidates competed for 250 seats in parliament. The Baath Party got 51% of those seats."
"We want to expand on democracy. The war in Iraq has not helped that cause in the region."
"There should be no limits to political freedom in Syria, as long as it is in the interests of the country."
On WMD:
"Since 1969, Syria signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Israel hasn't, and rejects inspections of its nuclear facilities. US reports say Israel has 400 nuclear weapons. Who do you think they are aimed at?"
"Syria presented one year ago to the UN Security Council a proposal for a Middle East free of WMD."
"During the Cold War, there was a Western theory that a balance of power/fear was a good guarantee for peace. By the same logic, the West should give Syria 400 nuclear weapons. There must be a deterrence."
"Syria is keen on a WMD-free Middle East. We hope Israel will agree."