French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner met in Damascus on shabbos with Syrian President al-Assad to discuss Mideast peace efforts. According to a report carried in the Syrian state-run el-Watan newspaper, the senior French official stated there cannot be a regional peace agreement if Syria is not included.

The report adds France is willing to play an increasingly active role in peace-making efforts in the region, to act as a mediator between Israel and Syria, while coordinating with US efforts.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)