May 3, 2009 - Naharnet - Assad Eager to Know Who Committed Hariri Crime

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he was keen to hear the decision of the U.N.-backed special tribunal investigating the 2005 murder of Lebanese ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.

Investigators have found evidence that Syrian and Lebanese intelligence officials were linked to the killing, but Damascus has denied involvement and Assad told the French 3 television he hoped the tribunal would clear up the matter.
"Knowing who committed this crime will be very helpful to Syria," he said, admitting that many parties suspect Syria's involvement. "Because when we have this very clear we'll be very happy and very relieved."

The Hague-based tribunal, the world's first anti-terrorist court, was set up to try those responsible for the massive seafront car bombing in Beirut that killed Hariri and 22 others in February 2005.

No date has yet been set for the tribunal's first trial, but prosecutors are gathering evidence and preparing indictments. It is not yet clear whether they will be able to tie the attack to senior Syrian leaders

Assad also urged the United States to reach out to Hamas and Hizbullah as part of the search for Middle East peace.

Speaking to France 3, Assad welcomed what he said was a new willingness in Washington to listen to Syria's views since President Barack Obama took office, and said Damascus was ready to help broker contacts with the groups.

The United States regards both Hizbullah and the Palestinian group Hamas as terrorist movements, and does not recognize them, a stance which Assad said was counterproductive if Washington wanted to seek regional peace.

"I think the problem was with the previous administration," Assad said, criticizing former U.S. president George Bush and welcoming Obama's decision to send envoys to open a tentative dialogue with Syria.

"I think if you want to solve the problem you can't go about saying: 'This is good and this is bad, this is evil and this is democratic, this is human rights and this is not politics'," he said.

"Politics is when you deal with reality. When you deal with influential parties to influence the position in a positive or a negative way," he said, calling on the United States to talk to both Iran and the militant groups.

"Hamas has influence and you cannot ignore them. You can't achieve peace while Hamas is outside this peace or against the peace," he said, adding that the same was true of Hizbullah.

Assad called for "direct or indirect" talks between Washington and Hamas, and added: "When they want to have help with these parties, any contact direct or indirect with Syria, and maybe direct, we are ready to help."

Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she had sent two diplomats to Syria, but Washington remains cautious in its dealings with a government that has close ties to Iran and to hardline armed groups.(AFP-Naharnet)