Syria Today | Former US President Carter visits Damascus

Former US President Carter visits Damascus

Former US President Jimmy Carter visited Damascus on April 18-19 to discuss the problems in the Middle East with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He also met the Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal to discuss the situation in Gaza, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported

The talks between Carter and Assad focused on possible peace negotiations between Israel and Syria, security in Iraq and the political turmoil in Lebanon. Both men agreed on their support for the principle of dialogue in finding solutions to the region’s problems. They also emphasised that the Israeli embargo currently imposed on the Gaza Strip should be lifted.

“A resolution needs to be made, as people in Gaza are continuing to suffer,” Carter said at a press conference in Jerusalem after he visited Damascus. “I believe however, a greater and more effective American role is needed here – going beyond the commitments made by the Bush administration to reach a peace agreement.”

Mashaal and Carter discussed Hamas’ policy towards an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement and the issue of the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Hamas in June 2006 during an attack on an Israeli army base near the Egyptian-Palestinian border.

During a press conference in Damascus Mashaal said Hamas would “respect Palestinian national will even if it was against our convictions”. Although he emphasised that Hamas does not recognise Israel’s right to exist, he said the group would accept a Palestinian state on the land occupied by Israel in the 1967 war.

Carter’s meeting with Mashaal has been strongly criticised by the US and Israel, who regard Hamas as a terrorist organisation. In his defence, Carter said “we’re not here as negotiators or mediators. We have no authority. We are here to learn. We believe the problem is not that I met with Hamas in Syria. The problem is that Israel and the United States refuse to meet with someone who must be involved.”

Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his role in mediating conflicts. He has also written a book about the Israeli separation wall, entitled “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” which was released in 2007.

“Carter has come to Syria to talk about a comprehensive peace process between Israel and Hamas,” political analyst Thabet Salem said. “Carter’s meetings with Hamas are very important for achieving peace in the occupied Palestinian territories.”