Al-Assad's interview with the British 'the Times' on Syria's policy
Syria-UK, Politics, 12/14/2002

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has given an interview to the British daily "The Times" regarding the situation in the region and bilateral relations.

Al-Assad indicated that the aim of his visit to Britain is to promote bilateral relations in the first place.

He pointed out that the focus is to develop management in Syria and cooperation between the universities of both countries. He added that Syria is about to introduce private banking and technological development where the British expertise is needed.

The president pointed out that it is natural for the two countries to coordinate together since Syria has an important role in the region and Britain has an important international role and is concerned with issues of the region.

Regarding Syria's latest vote in favour of UN Security Council resolutions "1441," the president underlined that it is very important to vote with the majority although Syria saw some points in the resolution which she did not like, but voting is one matter and opinion about it is another matter.

The president underlined that Syria cannot use the veto because she is a temporary member of the UN Security Council, so Syria voted in favor of the resolution to postpone the US military strike against Iraq with the aim of having a chance to cancel the war option entirely, and this will be one of the issues which is to be discussed during visit to Britain.

With regard to the UN inspectors mission in Iraq, the president indicated that the inspectors are part of the United Nations whose resolutions are clear regarding the issues of the world, including the Middle East, and that the problem lies from non-commitment to these resolutions, and this would ultimately lead as Syria has experienced for decades to failure and disturbance, and consequently Syria is concerned about interference in the work of the U.N. on any issue.

With regard to the Iraq report on armament, the president underlined that a quick judgment of the 12 thousand pages Iraq submitted to the UN would have direct effect on the fate of the region and would harm Europe as a whole as well as other areas in the world.

Regarding the US belief that removing Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq represents a solution to the Iraqi problem, the president underlined that the problems of the region are better solved by the people of the region, and any outside interference will represent a bigger problem.

Concerning Syria's oil trade with Iraq, the president indicated that the tests of the pipe line between the two states shows that it is weak and so studies are underway to build a new line with the cooperation with European countries and will surely be in line with the United Nations requirements.

Regarding the effect of attacking Iraq on Syria, the president underlined that the trade activities will be stopped and the economy in general will be affected and so will investment and tourism.

On terrorism the president underlined that Syria cooperate with the United States in combating terrorism out of her principle and not because of the good bilateral relations, and Syria confronted al- Qaida in Lebanon four years ago in cooperation with the Lebanese army.

Regarding Syria's name on the US list of the state sponsoring terrorism, the president indicated that such a list is a politically motivated list and has nothing to do with terrorism.

Regarding the offices of the Palestinian resistance groups in Syria, AL-Assad underlined that: such groups are backed by millions of Palestinians who support the struggle of the Palestinian people who have no body to defend them against Sharon who is slaughtering them and so these groups are not terrorist organizations as some might think.

The president added that the offices of these organizations in Syria are for information purposes and Syria has a border occupied by Israel and this occupied territory is the occupied Syrian Golan. Other than that area, Syria has no borders with Israel.

The president underlined that every peace initiative should have an aim of reaching just and comprehensive peace, and the best way to reach that goal is by the implementation of UN resolutions.

Regarding Lebanon, the president stressed that Lebanon has special importance to Syria because of the historical and social ties between the two states.

Regarding the Syrian troops withdrawal from Lebanon, al-Assad said that it is natural for them to withdraw because the Syrian army presence is contemporary and during the past years the army made redeployment because the Lebanese army has become capable of replacing the function of the Syrian army and the Lebanese state has become stronger.

Previous Stories:
  British officials welcome al-Assad's visit to Britain   (12/7/2002)
  Al-Assad to visit Britain   (12/4/2002)
  Syrian- Ukraine transport relations   (11/28/2002)

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