Monday 3 January 2000

Israel, Syria aim for peace

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
January 3, 2000

MATTHEW KALMAN

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, leaving for today's opening of talks with Syria in West Virginia, said Sunday that he is prepared to pay "a heavy price" for peace with Syria but warned that he wouldn't pay "any price."

The talks between Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al- Sharaa will be held in Shepherdstown, W.Va. President Clinton will open the talks in the state's oldest town, about 75 miles from Washington.

Barak said the talks would be difficult and complex but that he was determined to reach an agreement that would strengthen Israel.

He said Sunday that he felt the "burden of responsibility" to achieve an agreement within the year. "We don't …