May 5, 2003	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 2, 1424

DAMASCUS: Shortly before he visited Syria earlier this week, US Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke of a “new strategic dynamic” in the Middle East, following the fall of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.

Damascus stands at a crossroads as the political map of the region undergoes radical change. Apart from its small border to Lebanon in the west, Syria is surrounded by US allies — Turkey, Jordan and Israel — and the last of its neighbours, Iraq, is expected to have a pro-US government before long.

The London-based pan-Arab newspaper al-Hayat said Syria did not need a statement from Colin Powell to understand recent regional and international changes. Even a glance at a map would show that US troops were stationed on its borders.

Syria, however, has a key role to play in each item on the US agenda for the region — the ‘war on terror’, the implementation of the new Middle East peace plan and the stabilization of post-war Iraq.

Twelve years ago, the Gulf War to liberate Kuwait was the impetus for the Madrid peace conference and the consequent Middle East peace process. The US administration is hoping that the fall of Saddam will trigger similar changes in the region against the ‘war on terror’ and the stabilization of the Middle East.

Powell has called on Syria and Lebanon to stop supporting Shia Hezbollah militants and nine other radical Palestinian organizations. Some of them, including Hezbollah, are already on the famous US list of banned organizations.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faruk al-Shara is of the view that Hezbollah is a Lebanese party and a matter for the Beirut government — despite Syria’s large political influence on its small western neighbour.

It would be a nightmare scenario for the US if Hezbollah got a foothold in the Shia-dominated southern Iraq and started to fight against coalition forces in Iraq.

Ahead of Powell’s visit, Syria made some concessions to the US and closed the offices of three militant Palestinian groups. But Powell wants to see Damascus do more.

He is currently promoting a new Middle East peace plan which envisions the creation of an independent Palestinian state by 2005. Syria and Lebanon have a few reservations.—dpa