Israel perpetrates its attacks not because of security concerns but because of its expansionist ambitions, the Syrian transitional leader said in statements to The Washington Post widely broadcast here.

With regard to the continuing violations of Syrian territory and sovereignty by Israel, the leader explained that Damascus entered into war with Israel 50 years ago, and in 1974, a separation of forces agreement was signed between both sides, and denounced that Tel Aviv expelled the UN peace mission, occupied new territories and launched more than a thousand air attacks in Syria.

He stressed that such attacks were not due to security concerns but to expansionist ambitions.

He recognized that Damascus is negotiating with Israel and made significant progress towards a security agreement.

However, in order to reach a final agreement, Israel must withdraw from the territories it occupied on December 8.

In response to a question about whether Syria would agree to «demilitarize the area south of Damascus», the president stated that «this is Syrian territory, and Syria should have the freedom to administrate its own territory».

abo/mem/fm