investigating commission to inquire into all aspects of the terrorist attack killing prime minister harare. that tribunal has faced considerable obstacles, but it is still in operation, and i think its report would be very important in making a determining as to who is responsible for the assassination of prime minister harare and whether syrian officials were complicated in any way. but i do believe and have believed for a long time that syria could be the key to advancing the peace process in the mideast in kwebgs with my duties as -- in connection with my duties as work on the subcommittee during my work in the senate, i have traveled extensively abroad and concentrated on the situation in the mideast. in connection with those travels i visited syria 18 times and studied the syrian government, have gotten to know the former president, president hafez al asad, the current president bashir aseniorseniorassad. it has long been my view that dialogue with syria was very, very important. in december of 1988 i had my first meeting with the syrian president hafez al assad, a meeting which laste