A source close to Syrian President Bashar Assad claimed Syria will not sever its ties with Hizbullah and Iran, even in the framework of a peace agreement with Israel, Army Radio reported Wednesday.

In an interview on Hizbullah's Al-Manar satellite television station Tuesday night, Dr. Samir Al-Taki said that "it would be naïve to think we'd neglect our strategic alliances which do not stem from the Arab-Israeli conflict."

Referring the concept of Israeli withdrawal from the Golan, he said that "no one can rule in Damascus without holding the release of the [Golan Heights] as a priority."

According to Army Radio, Dr. Taki, a cardiologist, is the Syrian representative handling his government's indirect contact with Israel.

BACK