DAMASCUS, April 29: Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara said on Tuesday the international “roadmap” aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should also include Syria and Lebanon.

“Syria has received no roadmap, but should it be presented to Damascus, it should include Syria and Lebanon and not only our Palestinian brothers,” said Shara during a press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, who is visiting the Syrian capital.

He said his country supports “the Palestinian right for self-determination. Syria will accept what Palestinians themselves have chosen.”

The Palestinian Legislative council was meeting on Tuesday to approve the cabinet of prime minister-designate Mahmud Abbas, a step US President George W. Bush has said was required before publishing the roadmap.

The plan was drafted by the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations and forsees the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel in stages until 2005.

It also stipulates that Palestinians must cease all attacks and Israel must put all activity in the settlements on hold as well as dismantling illegal outposts recently built.

Syria wants Israel to withdraw from the strategic Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. It has also protested repeatedly at what it considers the US “double-standard” in dealing with the issue of weapons of mass destruction in the region.

Syria believes the United States should push Israel to dismantle its own arsenal of such weapons instead of just accusing Syria of having them.

Israel and the United States are also pushing Syria to cease its support of the militant Lebanese group, Hezbollah. —AFP