Hungarian official voices support to Syria becoming a temporary member of UN Security Council
Syria-Hungary, Politics, 6/24/2001

" My intention in this visit to Syria is to promote the good relations between traditional friends, Hungary and Syria," said political state secretary of the ministry of foreign affairs in the Republic of Hungary Mr. Zsolt Nemeth in a statement to Arabic News.

He added that Hungary and Syria have high level of political visits in the future and activities of the Syrian- Hungarian joint committee will be restarted. He indicated that among other things and in the context of the business committee, the two countries will sign many agreements especially on avoiding double taxation and the protection of investment.

Mr. Zsolt explained that during his meeting with foreign minister Farouk al-Shara he conveyed a message from Hungarian President Ferenc Madl to President Bashar al-Assad, noting that the message is that Hungary is ready to consider the request of Syria to support Syria becoming a temporary member of the UN Security council in 2003.

He said that also during his meeting with foreign minister Farouk al-Shara discussions dealt with developments in the region, bilateral relations and means of boosting them in all domains. The Hungarian official added that he discussed with the minister of State for planning Issam al-Zaem means of boosting economic relations for mutual interests.

On the economic part of his visit, Zsolt highlighted the promising cooperation relations between the two countries through the joint economic committee.

" We will have in the future very strong and friendly bilateral relations which will encompass all terms of political, economic and cultural life," Zsolt said.

Elaborating on the statement made by Zsolt, the Hungarian ambassador in Damascus Balazs Bokor told Arabic News that the Syrian- Hungarian joint committee was established in 1965, but in the last 14 years it was not active. He added: " Now we consider that the bilateral relations between the two countries enter a new phase- that is to have the possibility of reactivating this committee which will be an instrument for fixing the fields of common interests and will decide the concrete possibilities of the Hungarian companies to invest and make projects in Syria ."

Ambassador Bokor indicated these projects mainly on: water management and irrigation; agriculture, energy and transport. He continued:" We will try to establish a Syrian- Hungarian businessmen Association. And the intention is to convene the first meeting to be held this September for the joint commission since 14 years in Budapest ." He explained that the Syrian side will be attended by the minister of state for planning Issam al-Zaem and the Hungarian side will be chaired by the minister of transport and water management.

He commented that this meeting should be of concrete results for future bilateral co-operation, noting that this very meeting also has a direct support from the prime ministry in Hungary.

As for Hungary's position towards Syria and the situation in the Middle East, ambassador Bokor said that Hungary has a vital interest in reaching peace in the Middle East. " we are strict to the UN Security Council resolutions. We think without fulfilling these resolutions no peace will be reached. We are very much concerned now about the growing tension in the region and the every-day growing violence in the Palestinian territories ." He continued as saying:" Our policy is to communicate to any party that violence can not solve the problem. So we urge the parties concerned to find a common language on the basis of the international legitimacy ," ambassador Bokor said adding that Hungary is one of the few countries where there is an existing embassy of the state of Palestine since 1989 and " this demonstrates our position to the question of Palestine without any elaboration."

On Syria's joining the non- permanent membership of the UN security council, ambassador Bokor said that if Syria will become a non- permanent member at the UN Security Council this will give her the chance to directly express her position in the main policy formulating body of the UN.

" Hungary knows how important it is because not long ago Hungary was a non- permanent member at the UN." Ambassador Bokor commented.

Previous Stories:
  A message to al-Assad from Hungarian counterpart   (6/21/2001)
  On Syria's membership at the UN Security Council   (4/12/2001)
  Syrian speaker in Hungary   (1/29/2000)

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