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Clinton, Bill

Clinton and Assad Meet in Geneva to Discuss Middle East Peace

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

U.S. President Bill Clinton and Syrian President Hafez Assad met in Geneva on Sunday for over 5 hours to discuss Middle East peace. The meeting focused on the "peace of the brave" process initiated in Madrid in 1991. Key outcomes include U.S. and Syria's commitment to work towards formal peace with Israel, beyond ending state-sponsored terrorism, and Syria's consideration of full diplomatic recognition of Israel. Although several issues remain unresolved, including the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and Syria's support of terrorists, the meeting marked a significant step forward in the peace process.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. and Syria pledged to support the "peace of the brave" process initiated in Madrid in 1991, with a focus on formal peace with Israel that goes beyond ending state-sponsored terrorism.
  • Syria agreed to consider full diplomatic recognition of Israel, a significant development in the peace process.
  • The U.S. and Syria will work towards better relations between the two countries, with U.S. Secretary of State and Syrian Foreign Minister to lead diplomatic efforts.
  • The meeting sidestepped discussing the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon due to the absence of other parties.
  • Progress on Syria's harboring of terrorists was elusive, with U.S. officials expressing concerns about Syria's role in Middle East drug trafficking and links to Iran and Hezbollah extremists.
  • The U.S. and Syria discussed the potential for U.S. troops to police the neutralized Golan Heights if Syria and Israel agree to a peace agreement.
  • Clinton expressed his desire for Lebanon to be an independent state and objected to Syria's support of terrorists.

Statistics:

  • The meeting lasted over 5 hours, with Clinton and Assad discussing Middle East peace for an extended period.
  • The "peace of the brave" process initiated in Madrid in 1991 provides a framework for the U.S. and Syria's peace efforts.
  • Syria agreed to consider full diplomatic recognition of Israel, a significant development in the peace process.
  • The U.S. and Syria will work towards better relations between the two countries, with U.S. Secretary of State and Syrian Foreign Minister to lead diplomatic efforts.
  • The meeting did not result in a dramatic announcement, with further diplomatic work needed to achieve a peace agreement.

Sources:

  • NEWLN: Geneva U.S. President Bill Clinton and Syria President Hafez Assad met for more than 5 hours Sunday in Geneva to discuss Middle East peace.
  • YEDIOT AHRONOTH, Israel: 'Assad was careful not to specify the nature of the full peace. Nevertheless, President Clinton did so in his name when he mentioned "exchange of ambassadors, tourism and trade" - normal relations in general.'
  • TICHREEN, Damascus: 'Isreal must "take the difficult decisions and put an end to aggression and occupation for they contradict all human norms and because peace and occupation can never meet."'
  • AL BAYAN, Dubai: 'A total peace does not only mean an Israeli withdrawal from all occupied territories that it occupied in 1967, but also to abandon its aggressive policy towards its Arab neighbours.'
  • AL FAJR, Abu Dhabi: 'The summit showed the willingness of U.S. administration to pursue the peace talks on all tracks despite Israeli attempts to fail its negotiation with Palestinians.'

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