http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/scripts/article.asp?id=63267&mador=1&datee=12/10/99
Friday, December 10, 1999
U.S. likely to drop Syria from terror list
By Nitzan Horowitz and Daniel Sobelman, Ha'aretz
WASHINGTON - Following the breakthrough in peace talks with Syria,
the United States is likely to remove Syria from its list of countries that
support terrorism. Washington says this is one of the main incentives it is
offering the Syrians.
The State Department's latest report on terrorist and guerrilla
organizations states that Syria has not been directly involved in the
planning or carrying out of international terrorist attacks since 1986, but
stresses that Syria continues to provide shelter and support to a number of
radical groups which oppose Israel. Washington will wait to see how
Syria deals with the Hezbollah organization in South Lebanon.
According to the law, a country included on the list is not eligible for
military or financial aid from the United States. America also withholds its
support for aid provided by international financial institutions.
Syria has been included on the list for 20 years and its removal must be
approved by Congress. The list is to be renewed in April 2000. However,
a senior pro-Israeli source told Ha'aretz last night that the government
may decide to remove a country at any time.
The Jewish organizations are expected to support Syria's removal from
the list if there is real progress in the peace talks, Ha'aretz has learned.
"The list of demands from Assad over terrorism isn't long. It is within his
reach," the source said.
The real challenge now is to mobilize the funds needed to evacuate the
Golan settlements, to relocate industries and to establish military
installations in the Galilee. Israel will also ask for aid to set up a "peace
army." Aid for Syria will also be discussed by Congress.
The aid could total several billion dollars, sources said. Jewish sources
explained that the Republican-led Congress must be persuaded that the
process is important to the U.S. in order to raise the money.
American financial sources are meanwhile speculating that the U.S. will
also remove all its restrictions on trade with Syria, if the peace process
really progresses.
A Syrian financial delegation visited Washington last week for the first
time in four years, according to the international Arabic daily Al-Hayat.
The paper reported yesterday that the team met with Undersecretary for
Near Eastern Affairs Martin Indyk, his likely successor Neal Walker,
officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce and representatives of
large American firms.
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