Israel-Syria talks finally begin

SHEPHERDSTOWN, JANUARY 6: Israel and Syria finally began their first substantive discussions in nearly four years on Thursday, resuming th...

SHEPHERDSTOWN, JANUARY 6: Israel and Syria finally began their first substantive discussions in nearly four years on Thursday, resuming the chase for elusive peace after settling a dispute on what to discuss first.

Committees of experts from both the countries as well as the United States, which is playing the role of facilitator, started the challenging job of narrowing the gaps that have divided Israel and Syria for more than half a century.

quot;I think we8217;re chugging along, we8217;re not on a fast track,quot; State Department spokesman James Rubin told a press briefing after negotiators, grouped in two committees, opened face-to-face talks on security arrangements in any future peace accord and steps to normalise relations. They were joined in both instances by the US officials.

quot;This is the first serious business day on the nitty-gritty,quot; Rubin said, adding a third working group 8211; focusing on regional water rights 8211; had yet to convene.

Rubin said that group, as well as a fourth committee on future Israeli-Syrian borders, would meet later this week.

quot;It8217;s moving slowly and the Americans are trying hard to bridge the large gaps,quot; said an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Asked about the mood, he replied: quot;It8217;s not warm.quot;

He said Israeli and Syrian delegations only engage in direct talks in the presence of the US officials.

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US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright also held separate meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara.

Israeli officials said Barak was quot;seriouslyquot; considering heading back to Israel before the Jewish Day of Rest begins at sunset on Friday. But they said his possible departure would not have diplomatic significance.

quot;He has lots to do back home. He came for the opening and he has competent teams who can do the work,quot; officials said.

President Bill Clinton, who spent Monday and Tuesday here in meeting with Barak and Shara, could re-join the proceedings here this week, according to Rubin.

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quot;I don8217;t want to speak for the President but I think he8217;ll be coming again 8211; this week is my expectation,quot; he added.

Wednesday8217;s talks had been held up and jeopardised by a row over the agenda, which was finally resolved through high-level US intervention.

The hurdle overcome, Clinton brought Barak and Shara together for an hour on Tuesday and later hosted an informal reception for them at a resort hotel here.

Rubin said the party was reported to have produced a quot;remarkablequot; degree of interaction between Israelis and Syrians, with Barak at one point speaking in Arabic.

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quot;It was very informal. I believe Prime Minister Barak talked in Arabic during some of the discussions. And it was, as described by our Ambassador to Syria, a remarkable type of interaction for the diplomats of two countries that are in a state of war.quot;