Al-Assad meets with Arab journalists, British defense minister
Syria-Regional-UK, Politics, 12/19/2002

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received at his London residence yesterday Editors in Chief of the London-based Arabic dailies and Correspondents of different Radios,TVs, and News Agencies in London.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the situation in the region, particularly the Iraqi issue and Arab responsibility to avert a military act against Iraq.

Al-Assad called on all Arab Journalists to be independent and not to be followers of the Western mass media, stressing that the duty of Arab journalists is to write according to Arab point of view not according to the Western newspapers idioms.

Later on, President al-Assad received British Minister of Defense, Geoffrey Hoon and an accompanying delegation.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the importance of giving time to the inspectors in Iraq without any pressure hoping to reach a peaceful solution, and stressing the war against Iraq will lead to dangerous consequences not only on Iraq and the Arab states, but on the entire world.

President Assad reiterated that Syria rejects any military action against Iraq.

Regarding situation in the Palestinian territories, President Assad underlined that "it is a mistake that the World talks about two sides while the fact is there is the Palestinians who are suffering from Israeli aggression. And it is a mistake to talk about violence circle when Israel perpetrates brutal massacres against the Palestinians whose actions are in reaction to the Israeli aggression so,before talking about peace conferences or negotiations the Israeli aggression, occupation, massacres and settlements must be ended."

Later today, President Bashar al-Assad received the accredited Arab Ambassadors to London.

President al-Assad briefed Ambassadors on his talks with the British Officials, stressing the importance of Arab joint action and Arab unity for the interests of Arab causes.

For their part, Arab ambassadors praised President al-Assad stances towards Arab causes.

Previous Stories:
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  Al-Shara to the UN: Syria committed to helping the Palestinian cause   (12/2/2002)
  Syrian party official confers with Arab parties secretary   (11/27/2002)

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