The European Troika delegation held a press conference in Damascus
Syria-European Union, Politics, 11/20/2001

Belgium prime minister, who is the chairman of the European council, the chairman of the European Commission Romano Prodi and the EU ME special peace envoy Miguel Moratinos on Monday held a press conference at the Damascus Meridien hotel attended by correspondents of Arab and foreign news agencies and TV networking and Syrian journalists and the pressmen accompanying the visiting delegation.

The Belgian prime minister described the meeting of the EU delegation with President Bashar al-Assad as very constructive. He said:" for the European Commission it was a very important meeting." He added:" we have discussed with President Bashar al-Assad results and the implications of the September 11 incidents in the USA and the need to resume the peace process and restore calm to the region.

He added that bilateral co-operation was also discussed and it was agreed to intensify contacts between Syria and the European Union. " We have extended an invitation to President Bashar al-Asad to visit Belgium and the EU establishments in it..

The Belgian prime minister expressed his satisfaction with the policy pursued by President Bashar al-Assad, stressing the desire of the EU that Syria to continue its efforts to perpetuate calm in the region.

Replying to a question raised by one journalist, the Belgian prime minister indicated that there is a cleat understanding between the US and the European Union on the essence of the conflict in the region and the necessary solution needed for this conflict. He added:" I do believe that what the US secretary General said at the UN complies with the EU view point in that the only solution for the conflict is through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on international legitimacy resolutions. A matter which ensures the security of all parties concerned." Replying to another question if the EU is ready to stand firmly in order to implement UN resolutions 242 and 338, the Belgian prime minister said: My answer in short is yes." Answering another question on that he ( the Belgian prime minister ) said it is very important during the two coming weeks to re-launch the ME peace process, if there is something new and if the EU is able to make " Israel" launches the peace process in the region, the Belgian prime minister said that it is quite clear that as there are common efforts including the US, Europe, Russia and the Arab states and this is indeed a very important thing, so the peace process can be launched, stressing that all sides should take part in this effort and that " during the few coming hours we will know the official position of the American administration through the US secretary of State Colin Powel. Eventually through what we have explained in the few past days, all conditions are available to re-launch the peace process in the region." However, the EU delegation left Damascus on Monday evening and had arrived in it earlier at noon. The delegation was welcomed and seen off at Damascus airport by al-Shara and the EU head of delegation in Damascus.

Previous Stories:
  Al- Shara holds a series of meetings in Brussels   (11/7/2001)
  Al-Shara reviews with Moratinos developments, Israel's policy   (10/22/2001)
  La Liber Belgique: on the road to Damascus   (10/1/2001)

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