VOL. XXX1

NO. 47

29-AUGUST-1988

The Middle East Situation

The Iran-Iraq cease-fire is now officially in place, and the two sides havestarted direct talks under UN auspices in Geneva on settling all outstandingissues. The effects of the Gulf peace are already being felt in the widerregion, with Syrian leaders deeply concerned that Iraq may now focus hostilityon them for allying themselves with Iran. Damascus is also clearly anxious atthe danger of being sidelined by developments in the central...