Al-Assad gets a message from Blair, discusses deteriorated conditions with Cook, Solana, Moratinos
Syria, Politics, 10/13/2000

In separate meetings President Bashar al-Assad received the British foreign office secretary Robin Cook, the delegate of the British prime minister Tony Blair, the higher commissioner of the European Union Javier Solana for foreign political affairs and the EU-ME peace process special envoy Miguel Moratinos. They are accompanied by the French Ambassador in Damascus and the EU head of mission in Damascus Marc Pereini.

The two meetings were attended by the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara. Cook conveyed to President al-Assad a message from the British prime minister Tony Blair.

Talks also during the two meetings dealt with conditions in the region, "its continued deterioration as a result of the Israeli aggressions and provocation." The President remarked on Israel's aggressions and its continued attempts to avoid the requirements of a just and comprehensive peace.

The president called for a distinction between the " killer and the victim." He stressed Syria's firm backing to the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle for their lands and rights. He stressed that the Israeli acts of aggression and threats are not futile and that " Israel will be the looser at the ultimate end."

Earlier in the day, al-Shara received Solana in the presence of Moratinos, the French ambassador and Mr. Perieni.

The two sides reviewed the bloody developments in the region, resulting from Israel's escalation of its military acts against the Arab civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Al-Shara asked Solana that "the European summit which will be held today ( Friday) in Southern France will take a firm and practical position concerning the racist and aggressive Israeli practices which have not only targeted the Palestinians of Jerusalem, the West bank, and Gaza strip but also the Palestinians of 1948 and the impact of all these on the future of the peace process in the region as a whole."

Solana also answered questions put by the press in front of the foreign ministry following his meeting with al-Shara. He said replying to a question on the fate of the Arab detainees and prisoners in the Israeli jails, that " we made good exchange of view points with al-Shara.

Replying to a question on the Israeli threats against Syria and Lebanon and the reflection of these threats against stability and security in the region, Solana said " we do not prefer to resort to any kind of threats. In the contrary we prefer cooperation and ending tension and how to give the ME peace process a push forward, reasonably."

Solana arrived in Damascus earlier in the day.

Previous Stories:
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