Al-Assad, Spanish King open Umayyads exhibition in Cordoba
Syria-Spain, Politics, 5/4/2001

The second day of President Bashar al-Assad's visit to Spain was characterized by an important meeting with the Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar during which discussions dealt with the tense situation in the Middle East, means of strengthening Syrian- Spanish cooperation in all fields and the inauguration of the exhibition the " Shinning of the Umayyads in Cordoba," with the participation of the Spanish King Juan Carlos and the chairman of the European Commission Romani Prodi and high ranking Spanish officials and prominent figures.

In his speech at the exhibition's opening ceremony, President al-Assad said that humanity with its vast and original meaning is not confined to borders nor dispersed by peoples and that the Spanish people through this exhibition prove their respect to history and civilization.

Al-Assad added that Damascus is the meeting place for divine religions and was the capital of the Umayyad's state in the past and the capital of Syria at the present time, noting that Damascus follows up closely this great demonstration about the Arab culture in Andalusia where amity prevailed, where al-Sham- Andalus relations have been developed into an Arab- Andalusia relations and these relations are presumed to develop through the Syrian- Spanish relations and Arab- European relations.

President al-Assad stressed in a joint press conference with the Spanish prime minister Aznar that there is no real peace in the Middle East unless being comprehensive and just on all tracks. The President held the Israeli prime minister responsible for damaging the peace process and intensifying atmospheres by its "criminal acts against the Palestinian people and its aggressive practices which do not show Israel's desire to achieve peace with the Arabs." He added that 10 years after the convening of Madrid peace conference, Israel still refuses UN Security Council resolutions which constitute the terms of reference for the ME peace process. He added that Europe's basic role is embodied in pressuring the side which refuses UN Security Council resolutions and the international legitimacy resolutions.

The Spanish foreign minister Jose Maria Aznar said at the beginning of the press conference that the visit of President Bashar al-Assad to Spain is of an important dimension and of great significance.

He added that a framework declaration will be issued on the relations between the two countries by the end of June on the ground of strengthening regular political dialogue and giving a push forward to the cycle of cooperation, especially on the level of developing training for vocational centers cadres in the Syrian establishments and setting up a consultation council for the Syrian and Spanish businessmen.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad in Madrid to open from Damascus to Cordoba exhibition   (5/3/2001)
  Al-Assad to visit Spain tomorrow, Algeria in the mid of May   (5/1/2001)
  Al-Assad confers with Spanish foreign minister   (4/27/2001)

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