Syrian president, Jordanian monarch start talks

Sunday, May 21, 2000 | 12:21 p.m.

Assad met the king at the airport and took him to a presidential palace in Damascus where their talks began promptly, the official Syrian Arab News Agency said.

Jordanian officials said last week that King Abdullah was trying to restart Syria's peace negotiations with Israel, which were postponed indefinitely in January.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the officials said the king was also seeking to overcome an apparent chill in relations with Syria. Jordans feels it is being kept in the dark on Syria's talks with Israel. Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Sharaa had promised to visit Jordan, but never did.

Jordanian-Syrian relations improved after Abdullah ascended the throne on the death of his father, King Hussein, in February 1999. Last year the king visited Damascus twice.

Israeli-Syrian talks have stalled over Israel's refusal to commit itself to withdraw to the borders before the 1967 Mideast War. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has indicated he is prepared to withdraw from most of the territory it captured from Syria, but insists on retaining sovereignty over the Sea of Galilee, a key water source.

Abdullah and Assad were also expected to discuss Israel's planned withdrawal from southern Lebanon, scheduled to be completed by July 7.