Deiss on last stage of Middle East trip

The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, is in Lebanon on the last leg of his nine-day tour of the Middle East. He arrived from Syria, where he held talks with the president, Hafez al-Assad, and visited the Golan Heights.

The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, is in Lebanon on the last leg of his nine-day tour of the Middle East. Deiss, seen here inspecting a guard of honour in Beirut, will hold talks focussing on the Middle East peace process, and boosting trade links.

Deiss drove to Lebanon from Syria, where he held talks with the president, Hafez al-Assad and visited the Golan Heights.

Deiss is meeting members of the Lebanese government after taking time out to do some sight-seeing. On Friday, he is due to hold talks with the Lebanese president, Emile Lahoud, and sign a bilateral agreement on the protection and promotion of investments.

His talks with Lahoud are expected to focus on the situation in south Lebanon, the state of the Middle East peace process and strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in the economic sphere.

On Wednesday, Deiss held talks with Syria’s president, Hafez Al-Assad, and foreign minister, Farouq Al-Shara, on boosting ties between the two countries and the deadlocked Middle East peace process.

Deiss later told a news conference that Assad had appeared optimistic about the future of the peace process.

“I asked him whether he was optimistic or pessimistic over the negotiations with Israel, and I can say that I found him more optimistic,” said Deiss.

He said he had conveyed to Assad Switzerland’s support for the Syrian demand for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, which it captured in 1967. Deiss pointed out that the fourth Geneva Convention forbids the colonisation of occupied territories. But he also told Assad that Israel had a right to existence and security.

Deiss, who earlier visited Swiss military observers monitoring the ceasefire on the Golan Heights, said Switzerland was ready to mediate between Israel and Arab countries.

Negotiations between Syria and Israel broke down in January, just weeks after they resumed for the first time in almost four years. Syria says it will only return to the table if Israel provides guarantees that it will withdraw from the Golan Heights.

Israel says it is only prepared to resume negotiations if normalisation and security top the agenda. Syria backs Hezbollah guerrillas fighting to end Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon.

From staff and wire reports