Syria: due to Israeli participation, we boycott meetings of Euro-mediterranean industry ministers
Syria-European Union, Politics, 4/17/2002

The Syrian minister of industry Issam al-Zaem has stressed that Syria's rejection to taking part in the meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean ministers of industry held recently in Malaka, Spain was "because of Israel's participation in the meeting and in protest of the brutal crimes committed by the Israeli forces against the Palestinian people."

In a statement to SANA's correspondent issued on Tuesday, al-Zaem added "due to Israel's continued brutal and terrorist acts against the Palestinians and continued occupation of the Syrian and Lebanese territories, we have decided to boycott that meeting which was also boycotted by the Lebanese delegation for the same reasons."

He said "we have issued a statement circulated to participants in the meeting in which we clarified the reasons that pushed us to boycott and noted the need of taking sanctions against Israel and freezing its participation in the meeting as well as to take a clear decision halting its membership."

The Syrian minister said that the European delegations showed understanding to the Syrian position and that the chairman of the European Commission called for revitalizing cooperation with Syria and stressed his care to achieve a partnership agreement with it.

Previous Stories:
  Protesting Israeli aggression, Syria hesitates joining Euro- Mediterranean meeting   (4/16/2002)
  Syrian intellectuals call on Europe to shoulder its responsibilities   (3/12/2002)
  Al-Shara confers with Moratinos on Palestinian situation   (3/12/2002)

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