Assad: Mideast peace in 2008 unlikely

Syrian Arab Republic's President told an Austrian newspaper that achieving actual progress in the Middle East peace process in 2008 was unlikely .

 

In an interview with Austrian daily Die Presse, Assad said achieving Middle East peace in 2008 looks unrealistic because the United States would be preoccupied with the presidential election.

 

"It is perhaps too late to talk about peace in the last year of this US Administration. It will be preoccupied with elections.

 

"Annapolis was a one-day event. It will all depend on follow-up efforts."

 

US Policy in the region, which Arabs have long regarded as misguided, was changing in form although not yet in substance, he added.