EU trade commissioner hold fruitful talks in Damascus
Syria-European Union, Politics, 2/9/2002

Pascal Lamy, European Commissioner responsible for Trade, paid an official visit to Syria from 6 to 8 February 2002. The main objective of the visit was reinforce the EU- Syria relationship, particularly through the future Association Agreement, and to express support for the process of economic modernization and institutional reform.

Lamy was received by President Bashar al-Assad and had meetings with the Syrian prime minister Miro and several Syrian economic ministers. he also visited the Syrian- European Business Center and met representatives of the Syrian business community.

Lamy's visit to Syria was part of a three- country tour that took him to Lebanon on February 8 and Jordan on February 9. Mr. Lamy has taken up his duties in September 1999 when European Commission headed by President Romano Prodi took office In a briefing to Syrian journalists on Thursday evening at the headquarters of the European Commission in Damascus, Mr. Pascal Lamy, European Commissioner responsible for trade highlighted the main points he retained from his first visit to Syria.

He said that on Thursday morning he had a long and fruitful meeting with President Bashar al-Assad who was accompanied by my counterpart, the minister of economy and foreign trade Ghassan al-Rifai." We discussed all the principal issues of concern to both sides. We agreed on the fundamental concepts that underpin the economic and trade aspects of our ongoing negotiations for an Association Agreement between the EU and Syria.

He said that both sides are strongly committed to taking these negotiations forward. The EU is a special partner for Syria and can help in its ambitions for economic reform and modernization. Equally, he continued, Syria is an important partner for Europe.." We have a mutual and reciprocal interest in this negotiations ."

He added:" we see this agreement as a tool for development covering not just economic and trade aspects but also political and social dimensions; We recognize the different levels of development in these negotiations and the principle of asymmetry.

He indicated that both the EU and Syria sides must work on technical assistance aspects to allow the EU- Syria trade potential to truly blossom and cited the Syrian- European Business Center SEBC as a hgood example on this co-operation. He said that the EU is ready and willing to help in this respect, noting that Syria must also show a willingness to be helped.

Lamy indicated that both the EU and Syrian side also agreed on the need for a road map for the negotiations over the coming months which " I later discussed with the Syrian prime minister and his team." Mr. lamy continue that he had also discussed Syria's application to join the World Trade Organization WTO and he had underlined the EU's full support. " I made the point that progress on our bilateral negotiations may well contribute to easing matters in the WTO," Mr Lamy commented.

He said that in his subsequent meeting with Syrian prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro and with vice prime minister al-Hussein they agreed on the road- map for the coming months. It involves 3 steps; 1.. In March when the next round of talks is scheduled to take place, Syria will complete its information on its tariff schedules. On this occasion we will also address political, co-operation and Justice & Home Affairs aspects 2.. We will then inform each other of our respective priorities on the trade side 3.. the third step will involve entering into the crux of our negotiations by comparing and contrasting our priorities.

He indicated that as always in such negotiations the quality and substance of our negotiations will dictate the rhythm at which we progress, in the knowledge that both sides attach importance to concluding these negotiations successfully.

In the short- term, he said, we have also agreed to organize a seminar for the benefit of negotiators on both sides, to take stock of negotiations so far and facilitate future progress.

He added:" during my visit to Syria I was able to see first-hand the real potential that our trading relationship contains. He explained that the Syrian- European Business Council is probably one of the better EUR million the Commission has invested in the Mediterranean, noting " I think this gives us an impressive taste of what the future can hold.

Lamy concluded by saying:" All in all, in my brief but intensive first visit to Damascus I come away more conscious of where we have to go and I think on both sides we are now clearer on how to go about this. A lot is still on the horizon but we have brought the picture into sharper focus, which can only help us in achieving our shared objective of strengthening EU- Syria relations.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad discussed with Lamy relations between Syria, EU   (2/8/2002)
  EIB loan for health project in Syria at 100 million EUR   (2/4/2002)
  Al-Assad confers with EIB delegation   (2/4/2002)
  European official highlights Syria's cooperation   (1/30/2002)
  Al-Assad confers with Spanish foreign minister   (1/18/2002)
  The 6th round of negotiations for a Euro-Syrian Partnership   (4/26/2001)

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