Clinton arrives in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, on Sunday to resume talks with Syrian and Israeli leaders

January 9, 2000
Web posted at: 10:59 p.m. EST (0359 GMT)

In this story: Barak tours Civil War site with Albright Clinton working paper could prove crucial Rubin: Tough decisions will take time RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

SHEPHERDSTOWN, West Virginia (CNN) -- Despite last-minute mediation from U.S. President Bill Clinton, peace talks between Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak seemed likely to end Sunday without even a tentative agreement on a land-for-peace treaty.

Clinton met with Barak and al-Sharaa late Sunday, and the two Mideast leaders, who have reportedly agreed on little during six days of talks in West Virginia, were expected to leave Monday for their homelands.

Arriving in Shepherdstown after nightfall, Clinton spoke with the U.S. delegation and then Barak. Afterwards, the president held a meeting with Barak and al-Sharaa, reportedly to discuss a written summary, prepared by U.S. officials, of the most recent positions of the two countries.

"This is an ongoing process. The issues are difficult and complex and the president feels it's important to bring the leaders together," White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said.

A Syrian official called the Sunday evening talks about the document "crucial." Nevertheless, the two sides appeared to be wrapping up their current round of negotiations with little settled.

Barak has indicated he will return home Monday afternoon. Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy left the talks Sunday for Israel and then Morocco, where he will meet King Mohammad on Wednesday. Al-Sharaa plans to leave for Syria on Monday or Tuesday.

Barak, speaking publicly for the first time on the negotiations, said Sunday that the two sides face a "tough diplomatic battle. It is impossible to predict how long it will last or the results."

Barak tours Civil War site with Albright

	VIDEO
CNN's Andrea Koppel explains how far Israel and Syria have come in the peace process. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

"We will do everything in the deliberations to protect Israel's security and vital interest," added the premier, touring the Antietam national Battlefield, a Civil War site in Sharpsburg, Maryland, with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

After a daylong pause for religious observances, Syrian and Israeli negotiators resumed formal discussions Sunday morning at a secluded conference center in Shepherdstown.

The opening discussion concerned water, said Syrian sources. Talks later in the day were expected to concern borders, normalization of relations and security.

The two sides took a break Friday afternoon for the Israelis to observe the Jewish Sabbath and the Syrians to celebrate Eid al Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

Clinton working paper could prove crucial

Clinton, who has intervened in the negotiations numerous times, earlier Friday presented Barak and al-Sharaa with a working paper that reportedly summarizes the current positions of the two sides.

Syrian sources told CNN they are pleased with the document because it puts into writing what has been discussed and gives them a potential reference point should misunderstandings arise.

An Israeli Cabinet minister in Jerusalem agreed. "I think it is very important," said Shlomo Ben-Ami of the document. "This is the first time we have had such a paper that maps in such a clear way the agreements and the differences between the parties. So this is a point from where we can start making real progress."

The document represents a framework for the core issues that need to be resolved, both sides said. They include mutual security arrangements, water and the normalization of ties between the two countries in addition to perhaps the most crucial issue; the scope and timetable for an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights. The area is a strategic border region.

Rubin: Tough decisions will take time

U.S. State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said the document could eventually become the basis for a "core agreement" between the two sides.

But he said Syria and Israel still faced "enormous decisions" and "we don't expect those decisions to be made in a matter of days."

Barak and al-Sharaa tentatively plan to leave Monday for their homelands, but their negotiating teams are expected to continue working throughout the week before returning home.

The two sides reportedly have yet to agree on which issues to discuss first.

The Syrians want to talk about the withdrawal from the Golan Heights. They say they are looking for a commitment from the Israelis on how much of the Golan the Israelis plan to return. The Syrians want the return of the Golan to the June 4, 1967 border.

But the Israelis want to talk about security arrangements, normalization of ties and water before revealing how much of the Golan they are prepared to return.

The United States has proposed simultaneous meetings on all issues.

Correspondent Andrea Koppel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.