CAIRO: Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad admitted that relations with Egypt and Saudi Arabia were "strained in an interview he gave Al Jazeera Sunday night. The Syrian leader, long ostracized in the international arena, seemed to have transcended this image somewhat with a coming out at the Euro-Med Conference in Paris, where his visibility outshone other leaders present. His interview with Al Jazeera was candid, and he spoke also about restoring relations with Israel once a peace accord was in place. His public admission that relations with Egypt and Saudi Arabia - the two behemoths of the region - was strained, indicated how the gulf had widened between the two states that were once briefly one republic from 1958-1961. Amongst the reasons for discord between Syria and Egypt is the Syrian support for Hezbollah which has bought Lebanese politics to a virtual standstill. Additionally Syria is Iran's biggest Arab ally, which automatically places it in opposition to Egypt and Saudi Arabia. "It's a package of issues, Emad Gad from Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies told Daily News Egypt, "Syria is part of an axis that is opposed to Egyptian interests in the region and the axis it belongs to. The main issue is the backing of Hezbollah to the detriment of the Lebanese government. Gad said that just because Al-Assad admitted there was a problem did not mean that he would try to rectify it, mainly because each country already has much vested interest in their aims and alliances. "He admitted a reality, Gad said, "but he didn't say that Syria will take steps to improve relations. For Syria to improve relations with these countries, it must cooperate in matters of international legitimacy, such as in Lebanon. I think relations will not improve in the medium term future. Al-Assad also said that once a peace accord was in place with Israel, Syria would have normal relations with it the way it would have with any other country. "From the very start of the peace process, we have been speaking of normal relations, he told Al Jazeera, "Whether it s called normal relations or a normalisation makes little difference. These are normal relations, just like any relations between two states with embassies, links and treaties. Israeli embassy spokeswoman Shani Cooper-Zubida told Daily News Egypt, "Israel is seriously interested in beginning negotiations with Syria, in preparation for direct negotiations if and when a peace treaty will be signed. Israel expects normal relations between the two countries according to what is customary in the world. Al-Assad said, "Things could deteriorate, the same way they could improve. Relations could be warm, just as they could be cold. This is all part of the sovereignty of each state. This is what we call normal relations. He added that this has always been Syria's position and that it has not changed. Despite the comparatively positive talk, Al-Assad avoided shaking hands with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert who was also attending the conference in Paris. "The expectations for a handshake was from the media only, Israel came to this conference to promote the Palestinian-Israel negotiation, the Syrian-Israeli negotiations and the Israeli status in the Euro-Med. We're not hurt or disappointed; there was no expectation to begin with, Cooper-Zubida said.
