Posted on 07/17/2002 4:13:43 AM PDT by solmar_israel
Syria wants peace in the Middle East to start with Israeli withdrawal from occupied Arab lands, not with the division of nations into the "axis of evil and the axis of good," President Bashar Assad told a visiting North Korean delegation.
Assad said during a state dinner that Syria and North Korea, which US President George W. Bush labeled part of an "axis of evil" threatening world peace, must take "firm stands" to express their rights in realizing peace and defending their countries.
Syria seeks peace based on Israeli withdrawal from war-won Arab lands, including the Golan Heights, "but not the peace of those who classify peoples in the axis of evil and the axis of good," Assad was quoted as saying by the official Syrian Arab News Agency.
Addressing Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Assad said Tuesday:
" We, in this part of the world, suffer from this tyrannous policy, as you suffer in the Far East of the Asian continent. ... Both of us are facing similar pressures and confronting them with the national unity, steadfastness and moving forward on the road of development and modernization."
Without mentioning the United States directly, he said the world today suffered from a tyranny that stems from the conceit of power.
Assad charged the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians was continuing "as a result of the support Israel receives from the state which was presumed to be an unbiased peace process sponsor."
Since September 11, Syria has cooperated with the United States in sharing intelligence in the fight against al-Qaida, but refused to recognize other anti-Israeli groups, such as Hamas and Hizbullah as terrorists.
Kim Yong Nam arrived in Syria on Tuesday accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and Foreign Trade Minister Ri Kwang Gun. He has already visited Indonesia and Libya in a bid to foster bilateral relations.
Syria, North Korea and Libya are on the US list of nations sponsoring terrorism. The Central Intelligence Agency says North Korea has been exporting weapons, components and expertise to countries including Iran, Libya, Syria and Egypt.
Syria seems to be asking for it.
"Yo, Bashar, talk to the hand, 'cuz the face ain't listening."
Notice the Freudian slip. Not the fictitious "Palestinian"' lands. This is all part of the Pan Arab Islamic war of attrition against Israel. The two biggest proponents and antagonists leading the Arab nationalism (fascism) charge being Syria and Iraq.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.