Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, expected in Paris this weekend, has welcomed a “break” in France's policy toward his country and invited Paris to play a direct role in eventual negotiations between Damascus and Israel. In an interview appearing on the Internet site of French daily Le Figaro, Assad said: “We note a break between the current policy of France and the past policy. “This new policy is more realistic and corresponds more with the interests of our two countries. It is a solid basis to renew healthy relations.” French President Nicolas Sarkozy will meet Assad in Paris on July 12 after the French leader decided to restore high-level contacts with Damascus. Former president Jacques Chirac cut off all official contacts after the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri, who was a personal friend, in a February 2005 bombing in which Syria was widely implicated. Sarkozy invited Assad along with some 40 foreign leaders for Sunday's launch of a new Union for the Mediterranean, aimed at boosting cooperation between European Union and Mediterranean rim states. The Syrian leader will stay on for France's Bastille Day ceremonies on July 14. “This visit is for me a historic visit: an opening up to France and to Europe,” Assad told Le Figaro. Asked about the resumption of negotiations between Syria and Israel under Turkish auspices, he said it was “natural that there should be a lack of trust” given the stymied peace process. “For the moment the two parties are testing their intentions. We now need to find a common basis to start direct negotiations,” Assad said. Stressing the crucial aspect of “sponsorship” of such talks, he said he was “betting on the next American president” and invited the French president to get directly involved. “My impression is that (Sarkozy) is enthusiastic about these negotiations and wants France to play a direct role,” Assad declared. “If he confirms it to me, I will immediately invite him to support directly this peace process.” Turning to Lebanon, Assad said “preparations” were under way to organize a meeting in Paris with President Michel Sleiman. “I've known President Sleiman for about 10 years ... our relations are good,” he said. Asked about the international tribunal seeking those responsible for Hariri's death, the Syrian president stressed that his country was cooperating and would continue to do so. On the question of human rights in his country, Assad said: “We do not say that we are a perfect democratic country.” Meanwhile, Syria's top diplomat in London said Tuesday his country will soon send an ambassador to Paris. Syria's ambassador to Britain and Ireland, Sami Khiyami, said a new envoy is likely to be sent to France in ‘the very near future'.
