NEWSWEEK: Secretary Powell said you had agreed to close the headquarters of some Palestinian rejectionist groups here in Damascus. Did you?

ASSAD: There are differences in priorities between us and the U.S. administration. When Secretary Powell talked about [closing] the offices, we asked him to talk about all the issues concerning our two countries in a package… Our priority is to restore our territory.

You mean the Golan Heights?

Yes, the Golan.

The U.S. contends that these “offices” are involved in directing terrorist operations in the territories and in Israel.

You consider these offices to be involved in terrorist activities, but they are not.

Have you closed some offices?

I talked with Mr. Powell about stopping “activities,” not closures. The [Palestinians] have information offices and can appear on TV.

Did you give Powell some assurance that there would be some restrictions placed on these groups?

We talked about all these issues, but no final decision was made. We are still talking.

There have been stories about recent meetings between a Syrian official and an Israeli over starting up peace negotiations.

This is the Israeli way–to make it appear as if Syria is working in secrecy. Why should we create back channels? This does not give you popular support… which is very important if you are engaged in a peace process.

Would Syria be willing to engage with Israel in peace talks?

The important thing for us is to restore our territory completely, and this is guaranteed in Security Council resolutions. If any Israeli government is ready to engage on these terms, we have no problem.

Do you demand that Israel agree to give back (in advance) what Prime Minister Barak offered or will you negotiate without conditions?

If you want to negotiate, you need a basis. The basis is the Madrid Conference.

Your father came close to making peace with former Prime Minister Barak.

No, not Barak, but with Prime Minister Rabin in 1995. With Barak, we did not achieve anything.

Do you view this Israeli government as a partner for peace?

We don’t trust [Israeli Prime Minister] Sharon because he definitely doesn’t want to make peace… but it’s nothing personal.

Did you make a mistake in opposing the war with Iraq, keeping Iraqi oil flowing to Syria and allowing weapons to go into Iraq?

We were not close to Saddam and did not have an embassy in Baghdad. What you said about the oil is true. We had economic relations with Iraq. [But] arms were smuggled into Iraq by individuals; the government had nothing to do with it.

Did Iraqi-regime leaders come here during the war?

Yes, some of them came to the border. They weren’t allowed to come in.

Their families?

We allow families to come to Syria.

Didn’t Powell ask you to stop Iran from supplying Hizbullah with weapons via Damascus?

He talked about supplying Hizbullah. They do not get arms via Syria. We give them political support because they want to get back their lands.

Would you consider stopping the political support?

As long as they don’t do any terrorist acts, we are supporting them.

The U.S. has introduced the Roadmap to bring about a Palestinian-Israeli peace. In the past, Syria has been viewed as a spoiler.

We don’t have any relations with Palestinians… so we are not able to spoil.

Don’t you have to engage in talks with Israel to get back the Golan?

There’s no other way. You should have negotiations to have peace.

It is said that your father made a strategic decision to go for a peace treaty with Israel. Do you agree with his decision?

Yes, definitely… He made the decision, but I had the same feeling.

When did your father make that decision?

In 1990, we took the decision for peace.

Some in Israel say that you are more extreme than your father. Is this so?

It’s just a lie.

Are you worried about U.S. military action here?

Powell said there are no plans for U.S. military actions against Syria.

Do you believe him?

Yes, Powell is the rational wing [of the U.S. government].

Did Iraq put its weapons of mass destruction in your country during the war?

Why would Syria let them put these weapons in this country?

Isn’t it time to withdraw your troops from Lebanon?

This is related to a peace treaty, to a complete [Israeli] withdrawal. They still occupy Shebaa Farms.

Saddam Hussein is gone. No one seems to be sorry.

Nobody is sorry at all. It’s good that he’s gone. He was bad, but [the outcome] should be better.