December 8, 1999
Web posted at: 4:23 p.m. EST (2123 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Israel and Syria will resume face-to-face peace talks next week in Washington, President Clinton announced Wednesday.

The breakthrough came after Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Syrian President Hafez Assad Tuesday in the Syrian capital of Damascus and then with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Israel and Syria broke off peace talks in 1996.

"We are at a pivotal moment in the Middle East peace process," Clinton said at a news conference. "One that can shape the face of the region for generations to come."

VIDEO Watch U.S. President Bill Clinton give his opening remarks at his Wednesday news conference (December 08) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K     AUDIO Listen to Clinton's statement on the Mideast peace process 2.5 MB/4.07 min. AIFF or WAV sound     MESSAGE BOARD Mideast peace

"History will not forgive a failure to seize this opportunity to achieve a comprehensive peace."

After two days of talks in Washington next week, Clinton said, Barak and Syria's representative will return to the Middle East region for more negotiations.

"Before us is a task as clear as it is challenging," Clinton said, adding that the two men will bear a heavy responsibility to bring peace to their people.

He also said that he hoped Israeli-Lebanon peace talks could be resumed, now that Syria and Israel and agreed to negotiations.

Will continue working for Israeli-Palestinian peace

On perhaps the most dominant peace issue in the Mideast -- Israel and the Palestinians -- Clinton also said he is determined to keep those negotiations on track.

The talks bogged down this week over the issue of new Jewish settlements on the West Bank and Gaza.

Clinton said Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat are committed to their timetable to forge the framework for a final peace plan by February, with implementation in September.

"I will spare neither time nor effort in pursuit of peace," Clinton said.

After two days of talks in Washington next week, Clinton said, Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa will return to the Middle East for more negotiations.