Syrian president meets with France's Sarkozy

PARIS, France (CNN) - Syrian President Bashir al-Assad says the West needs to be involved in peace talks between Syria and Israel, but such talks will only progress when a new U.S. president takes over the White House.

"Since we are talking about the need for the presence of the U.S. administration, to be completely frank, (the Bush) administration is not interested in the peace process," al-Assad said Saturday after meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "We are waiting for the next U.S. administration."

Al-Assad and Sarkozy discussed the Syria-Israel talks and other issues, including Iran's nuclear program, at a news conference at the French presidential palace.