U.S. Will Not Give Syria 'Free Maneuver' on Hariri Tribunal Process

by **Admin** Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:07 am

The U.S. administration represented by the trio -- Bush-Cheney-Abrams – reportedly objects to Israel conducting dialogue or any kind of contact with Syria.

The sources, who are keeping a close vigil on the Syria-Israel situation, quoted former Israeli Foreign Ministry Director General Alon Liel as saying that the U.S. administration believes that sanctions against Damascus should be a priority.

Liel, who was involved in unofficial peace talks between Syria and Israel, said the U.S. administration will "thwart any move that could give Syria free maneuver on the international tribunal process."

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon was now ready to conduct trials in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and related crimes.

Liel said that after a lecture he gave in Washington on the outcome of the Israel-Syria negotiations, the U.S. administration -- represented by President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams – made it clear to him that it "strongly objects to dialogue or any contact with Syria by Israel."

Washington, Liel, added "rather believes it is necessary to isolate the Syrian regime, punish it and thwart any maneuver chances."