Al-Jazeera TV airs discussion programme on Syrian president's visit to Tehran

["Behind the News" programme, moderated by Ali al-Zufayri, discusses Syrian President Al-Asad's visit to Tehran - live]

Doha Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel Television in Arabic at 1830 gmt on 2 August carries a new live 25-minute episode of its "Behind the News" political discussion programme, presented by Ali al-Zufayri in the Doha studio. Today's episode discusses Syrian President Bashar al-Asad's visit to Tehran. The guests on the programme are Dr Nahlah al-Shahal, professor of political science and observer of Syrian-Western relations, via satellite from Paris; and Dr Muhammad al-Sa'id Abd-al-Mu'min, professor of Iranian studies at Ayn Shams University, via satellite from Cairo.

Al-Zufayri begins by posing two questions: "What are the objectives of Al-Asad's visit to Tehran and the nature of the message he is carrying to officials regarding the nuclear file? Is it possible to rebuild relations between the two countries on different principles, ones that take the regional developments into account?"

Al-Zufayri says that Tehran's relations with Damascus are "the only relations between an Arab country and Iran that have changed from being simple relations into becoming a strategic alliance." He adds that Al-Asad's visit to Iran, which is the third of its kind, is particularly important in light of the political changes in the region, such as the indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel, the fact that Lebanon has overcome a serious political crisis, and the decreasing tension between the United States and Iran.

The programme then airs a three-minute report by Iman Ramadan. Against the background of Al-Asad's arrival in Tehran and Iranian President Ahmadinezhad's reception of him at the airport, Ramadan notes "the winds of cautious calm" in the region. She says that the political situation has become appropriate for rearranging cards. She discusses the varied and conflicting indications of Al-Asad's visit to Iran. She notes that Al-Asad is carrying a French settlement proposal, and that Al-Asad's alliance with Iran is probably Syria's only option with regard to facing its crisis with the West. She asks: What does Al-Asad have in his bag? She replies: A file on indirect negotiations with Israel, negotiations that could result in a political deal, and the liberation of the occupied Golan. She says that Israel seeks to isolate Syria from Iran, but that Syria has stressed that its relations with Iran are "not a subject for haggling." She adds that the Iraqi and Lebanese issues could also be discussed in Iran. Ramadan says that Al-Asad has said that he has been asked to present to Iran a French proposal by which Iran would have to relinquish its uranium enrichment programme in return for a package of European incentives. Video footage with the caption: "Syrian president in an interview with Al-Jazeera, Paris 13 July 2008," shows the Syrian president saying that he will begin contacts with Iranian officials immediately after arriving in Damascus to present to them President Sarkozy's proposal and listen to their response. Ramadan says that some people believe that the fact that France has asked Syria to deliver its message to Iran is a first step towards breaking the Iranian grip on Syria, something that Europe and the United States has always sought to achieve. She wonders: Will Damascus achieve what the western forces have so far failed to achieve?

Asked about the details of President Al-Asad's visit to Tehran, Al-Shahal says: "Although the obvious purpose of the visit is fulfilling the promise that President Bashar al-Asad made in France with regard to conveying the French and European proposal to Iran, I believe it is a coordination visit at a critical time in the region and the world." She refers to the upcoming US presidential elections, the changes in Israel, the rumours of a military strike against Iran or Syria, the current tension in the region, and US-Iranian talks. She notes that a number of factors warrant a Syrian-Iranian assessment of the current stage. She stresses that the entire region and the world are witnessing major changes.

Asked about Al-Asad's presumed mediation role, Abd-al-Mu'im says: "I believe President Bashar al-Asad is carrying a two-part message. The first part concerns French-Iranian relations because in the past these relations became tense because of some statements made by the French president." He stresses that France must find a way to hold contacts with the poles in the region, particularly Iran, "in order to rectify its relations with Iran and become a major party to the incentives promised by the EU and thus push forward ties, especially economic ties, with Tehran." With regard to the second part of the message, Abd-al-Mu'im says that it concerns the Iranian nuclear file and France's attempt to encourage Iran to accept the European incentives because they will serve as a prelude to serious and effective interaction between Iran and the West.

Al-Zufayri asks how Syria can convince or encourage Iran to respond to the European proposal, Al-Shahal says that she does not believe Syria will try to convince or encourage Iran to accept the European proposals, or even play a mediation role. She adds: "I believe there is a genuine strategic alliance between Syria and Iran, one that is based on interests and on a long-standing network of economic, political, and military relations." She says: "I do not believe Syria is about to convince Iran to relinquish something or accept something. There is mere coordination."

Al-Zufayri asks: "Is it possible to say that France wanted to reward Syria by asking it to convey this message?" Al-Shahal says: "It is a reward and at the same time an attempt to achieve the constant Western dream; namely, to separate Syria from Iran." She discusses the European and US attempt to separate Syria from Iran, and says that one of its tools could perhaps be asking Syria to act as a mediator. She stresses that "it is a reward and an attempt to attract."

Al-Zufayri asks if Syria and Iran share identical viewpoints with regard to the Iranian nuclear file, Abd-al-Mu'im says: "Iran and Syria share a clear strategy in their alliance towards developments in the region; namely, the strategy of struggle." He adds that the visit comes at a time when the two sides must re-discuss their strategy and alter their positions on the issues in the region, including the Iranian nuclear file. He stresses that the region "is proceeding towards a strategy of peace while safeguarding the rights of the concerned parties in the region." He expects the talks between the Iranian and Syrian presidents to focus on this point in particular. He argues: "In order to coordinate efforts between Iran and Syria, and to safeguard the alliance between the two parties, it is necessary to reach agreement on basic principles concerning the changes in the region and Syria's move towards the West." He adds: "I believe the message that President Sarkozy asked President Al-Asad to deliver to Tehran is a test of the Syrian approach towards the West. Is Syria serious in its approach towards the West and serious about peace with Israel?" He notes that the West believes the Syrian-Iranian relations could be an obstacle to peace with Israel.

Following a short break, Al-Zufayri notes claims that the indirect Syrian-Israeli negotiations warrant a reconsideration of the Syrian-Iranian strategic alliance. Asked to comment, Al-Shahal says that they should not fall into the trap of the Western propaganda that claims that the Iranian nuclear file is the essence of the problem with the West. She stresses that the problem between Iran and the West is "Iran's regional role," the situation in Iraq, and other issues.

Al-Zufayri asks if the people in the region are captive to this idea, Al-Shahal argues that there is fear in the region of "Iran's political influence," not of its nuclear bomb. She stresses that the West is exploiting the issue of Iran's nuclear power to justify a specific strategy. She argues that the region is not proceeding towards a peaceful strategy. She adds that the indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel are not likely to achieve results within months as the Western media claim due to the Israeli obstacles. Once again, she says that the region is not proceeding towards a comprehensive settlement. She notes the direct occupation in Iraq and the fact that the Americans have failed to sign a security agreement.

Al-Zufayri asks about Syria's and Iran's positions on the indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel. Abd-al-Mu'min says that "the first priority for Syria and Iran in these negotiations is their joint interests, and both sides realize the need to continue the alliance between them in order to achieve their interests, because this alliance can act as an element of pressure on the West and Israel to accept the Iranian and Syrian demands or at least interact with them."

Asked if it is possible to reach a settlement by which Syria would regain its land and at the same time maintain its strategic alliance with Iran, Al-Shahal says that the liberation of the Golan will not anger Iran. However, she stresses that Syria is not about to regain the Golan due to Israel's obstacles. Interrupting, Al-Zufayri says that Israel will not return the Golan unless certain conditions are met. Once again, Al-Shahal argues that Syria is not about to regain the Golan and that the negotiations will take many years. She notes the volatile issues in the region, such as the situation in Iraq. She stresses that the situation in the region is not sufficiently mature such that the repercussions of a peaceful settlement would embarrass or isolate Iran.

Al-Zufayri asks if Iran and Syria have become the centre of influence and if the moderate Arab countries have become marginalized. Abd-al-Mu'min says that the major issue is Iran because it is a growing power. He adds that Syria has rights which it wants to restore, and that it is seeking Iran's assistance to achieve its aspirations. He stresses that Iran will not abandon Syria.

Concluding the episode, Al-Zufayri thanks his guests.

Source: Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 1830 gmt 2 Aug 08