Al-Assad confers with Annan
Syria-Regional, Politics, 6/15/2001

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday at the Damascus al-Shaab palace received the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Present at the meeting were the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara, the UN assistant secretary for political affairs and the UN special envoy to the Middle East, the official spokesman for the UN secretary general and officials concerned.

Talks dealt with developments in the region and the ME peace process in light of new developments resulting from the deterioration of conditions in the occupied Arab territories.

The president stressed Syria's unwavering stances towards the ME peace based UN resolutions and UN terms of reference. He expressed hope to Annan that his efforts to be confined to the importance of implementing UN resolutions relating to the Arab- Israeli conflict and the question of Palestine.

The president indicated there is no need to divide the peace tracks in order to reach a comprehensive peace in the region. He stressed that any measures taken and not convincing for the Arab public opinion will be futile and will be only conducive to complicating conditions in the region.

Annan stressed that just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East region should be based on international resolutions concerned especially UN resolution 242 and 338 and the land for peace formula.

In a press conference he held on Thursday at the Damascus Sheraton hotel Annan said that Syria plays a pivotal role in the region and the " the essence of my mission is to help in easing down conditions between the Palestinians and the Israelis and to avoid more escalations and killing especially among the Palestinians in the occupied territories."

He added that its is ripe time now to revive the peace process. And " I had the chance today in the morning to discuss these matters with President Bashar al-Assad and stressed during the meeting with his excellency on the need of achieving a just and comprehensive peace on the Syrian track."

Annan continued that the US ME peace cosponsors, the US and Russia are in continued contacts with the leaders of the region in an attempt to give the ME peace process a push forward.

He added " I do believe that President Bashar al-Assad sees that the terms of reference for the ME peace process are the UN resolutions, especially resolutions 242 and 338."

Concerning the sanctions on Iraq, the UN chief said that the UN Security Council, and before taking any decision takes into consideration Iraq's relations with the neighboring states as well as the concerns of the neighboring states towards Iraq.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Shara, Annan discuss ME developments   (6/14/2001)
  Al-Assad congratulates Khatami, discusses with Moussa revitalizing AL work   (6/11/2001)
  Al-Shara makes consultations with Moussa   (6/8/2001)

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