Word: assad
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...deal was based on a simultaneous withdrawal of Syrian and Palestine Liberation Organization forces. When U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz flew to the Syrian capital of Damascus, capping two weeks of shuttle diplomacy that had brought about the Israeli-Lebanese accord, he learned that Syrian President Hafez Assad had a long list of objections...
Lebanese Foreign Minister Elie Salem heard about those objections firsthand when he flew to Damascus late last week, hoping at the very least to talk the Syrians into holding discussions on the subject. He got nowhere. On his return to Beirut, Salem declared gloomily, "We know that President Assad will not accept the agreement." Undeterred, the Lebanese government unanimously approved the accord with Israel the next...
Although the U.S. appears to have little chance of bringing about a withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon any time soon, it will press ahead in its dealings with Syria, hoping to find out precisely what Assad's price is. At the same time, the Reagan Administration is trying to persuade moderate Arabs to lend a hand. Shultz stopped over in Saudi Arabia to confer with King Fahd, but the Saudis emerged later with a rather grumpy pronouncement that they would not serve as anyone's "tool." Translation: With their characteristic caution, which often borders on gutlessness...
Shultz may yet turn into a realist; persuading Syria to go along with the accord will be a formidable task. When Lebanese Foreign Minister Salem flew to Damascus to brief Assad on the progress of the talks, Syrian officials raised so many objections that Salem became convinced that no agreement could possibly satisfy Syria...
...Even if Assad wants to pull out his forces, he is certain to demand a price. One possibility: a security pact with Lebanon seeking assurances that the Israelis will not be allowed to use Lebanese territory and that Beirut will take measures to prevent the smuggling of arms and men into Syria by such opponents of the Assad regime as the Muslim Brotherhood. Shultz has vowed not to become involved in a second round of shuttle diplomacy, but he may find himself on the road to Damascus more than once to secure Assad's cooperation. Only if he prevails...