Three elements behind Mideast conflicts: Syrian FM
( 2001-10-29 08:52 ) (8 )

Visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Faruk Shareh on Sunday attributed unremitted Mideast conflicts to the mixture of three elements -- geography, religion and oil.

There are three elements that fuel the Mideast conflicts and threaten the interests of Arab countries continuously -- the strategic geographical location of the Arab world, the cradle of three religions, and the world's biggest oil reserves, Shareh said in Khartoum.

While addressing Sudanese Foreign Ministry officials, he said that "Arab nations must face up to the current challenges and threats."

He urged Israel to fully withdraw from all the occupied Arab territories according to relevant UN resolutions.

Backed by the US, Israel has kept evading the recognition of the Palestinians' rights since the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991, said the minister, adding that the September 11 terror attacks on the US may prompt the US administration to reconsider its Mideast policies.

"The Muslims and Arabs have nothing to do with the terror attack," he added.

Shareh also stressed the need to distinguish between terror acts and legitimate struggle against Israel, pointing out that the latter is considered legitimate under the international conventions and an anti-terror pact signed by Arab countries.

He called on Arab nations to adopt a unified stand to enhance solidarity in the face of "Zionist occupation" of Arab lands.

Shareh was accompanying Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on a two-day state visit to Sudan, which ended Sunday afternoon.