Al-Shara confers with Aziz, Moratinos
Syria-Iraq, Politics, 12/1/2000

The Syrian foreign minister farouk al-Shara on Thursday in Damascus received Iraq deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz.

Present at the meeting was the deputy foreign minister Suleiman Haddad.

On the Iraqi side the meeting was attended by the secretary of the Iraqi foreign ministry Riyadh al-Qeisi and the chairman of the Iraqi interests office in Damascus Muhammad Rifaat.

The two sides continued discussions on topics already discussed in the previous conditions, relating to latest current conditions, especially in the occupied Arab lands and bilateral relations between Syria and Iraq.

Following his meeting with al-Shara Aziz answered questions put by journalists.

Replying to a question on the aim behind his visit to Damascus Aziz said " I have come to meet with Mr. Farouk al-Shara after my coming back from China and Russia in order to follow up what we have discussed in our previous meeting last week."

Replying to another question on predictions made by certain press sides on the possible visit by President Bashar al-Assad to Iraq, Aziz said: " If his excellency the President wishes to do so he is welcomed as a dear guest in Iraq."

On the developments of relations between Syria and Iraq and whether there will be full diplomatic representation between the two sisterly countries, Aziz said ( if God will ) " Insha ' Allah."

Answering a question on resuming pumping the Iraqi oil through the Syrian territories, Aziz said " I have no information. These are issues of technical nature."

Aziz described his visit to Russia and his talks with the Russian officials as good and that relations between the two countries are excellent."

On whether he will return back to Baghdad on board of an Iraqi plane, Aziz said " it is natural" Earlier in the day al- Shara received the EU-ME peace process envoy Miguel Moratinos and members of the accompanying delegation.

Present at the meeting were the deputy foreign minister Mrs Siba Nasser and the director of the Minister's office Samir al-Qasir.

Talks dealt with current conditions in the region and the aggressive policy pursued by israel against the unarmed Palestinians.

Al-Shara explained that israel is the only side responsible for the aggressive acts and intensifying conditions in the region as well as striking the peace process.

Moratinos agreed with Mr al-Shara that the situations are explosive and that what the Palestinians undergo is unacceptable. He stressed that the EU has criticized Israel for its over use of power, noting that the EU has to work on all tracks in order to establish just and comprehensive peace in the region.

Moratinos described his talks with al-Shara as friendly and positive.

In a press statement following his talks with al-Shara', Moratinos stressed that Mr. Al-Shara stressed Syria;s complete commitment to the peace process and the need of making efforts to eliminate the tragic situation taking place in the Middle East region.

He added that during the talks with al-Shara discussions dealt with the grave situations in the Middle east and the exchange of views and ideas with the Syrian side at this crucial conditions.

Replying to a question on how the EU views Israel's threats against Syria and Lebanon, Moratinos said: " we are not with any threat, rather we support dialogue and negotiations. We think we have to work for resuming negotiations and not the language of threat and the use of force."

Previous Stories:
  Syrian mediation to prevent the partition of Iraq   (11/29/2000)
  Iraq denies a request for a Syrian mediation with Kurdish forces   (11/29/2000)
  Tareq Aziz violates the air embargo to Damascus   (11/27/2000)

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