Danish FM: Syria is a central player in regional issues
Syria-Denmark, Politics, 5/20/2003

A joint press conference held at Damascus yesterday between the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and Denmark's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Per Stig Moller.

In a welcoming speech al-Shara said that the visiting minister held talks earlier in the day with President Bashar al-Assad and complementary discussions were also held later in the day at the Foreign ministry. The Danish minister expressed thanks for the warm reception he received in Syria. He described his talks with President Bashar al-Assad as encouraging and frank during which the two sides debated discussions on Iraq, the Middle East Peace process and dialogue between cultures as means to fighting terrorism.

The Danish minister explained that on Iraq, "we feel we have agreed" on maintaining Iraq's unity, an interim government and then a national government to cover all social strata in Iraq.

He underlined the importance of Arabic contributions with the UN auspices as soon as possible to this effect.

He also underlined Syria's key role on the Middle East, noting that "we can work for the Roadmap, and the peace process," and that the Roadmap comprises Syria. He indicated that final peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without Syria and Lebanon. He continued that it is very important that the Roadmap achieve a comprehensive peace so that it includes Syria and Lebanon.

He said that efforts should be concentrated on fighting terrorism not "only that of Osama Bin Laden, but that of 'a state of mind' and this will be attained through maintaining a comprehensive dialogue." He hinted that through partnership between Europe and the Arab states "we can stop this state of mind." A comprehensive approach and process through a constructive dialogue.

He added that Europe wants also to see Syria as part of the Barcelona process and to sign the Association agreement very soon. He said the partnership is not only a question of Israel and the Palestinians. It is not only a Middle East. It is, moreover Syria, Saudi Arabia and other countries views on the situation in Iraq after the war, especially as Syria is a central player at the UN Security Council.

Commenting on his Danish counterpart's views concerning the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, the foreign minister said that bombs have been thrown on the Israeli sides from the Palestinians are one percent compared with the Israeli acts of destroying houses, burning farms, assassinating Palestinians, with Palestinians, unarmed, suffer under the an Israeli besiege, facing one of the largest weapons arsenals in the whole ME region. Al-Shara added the Palestinians will not be resisting this Israeli occupation, if they were obliged to defend their life and home.

Al-Shara continued that the other point relates to the importance of achieving peace between the two sides. He said for many times the Palestinians stopped their operations on the hope the Israeli side will start the implementation of the Roadmap, known previously as "Mitchell plan," however, Israel never stopped its military acts against the Palestinians in acts of incursions, detention and killings.

Replying to another question on the fragile European position concerning the peace process in the ME, al-Shara said it is a mistake to described the European position as fragile. He said it can be said that the European position has not been united -- before and after the war against Iraq, and the same can be also applicable regarding regional and international crisis. But, on the other hand we should not exaggerate the ability of the European position to make a breakthrough.

Al-Shara, however, added that the European stand continued to unmask the position concerning the war, but the Europeans could not prevent or stop the war. He also added that the Europeans could not pressure Israel to implement the UN Security Council resolutions in halting the settlements, etc.. But the Europeans through the Quartet committee can help in achieving peace in the ME region.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Fahoum: Palestinian groups freeze media activity to avoid American pressure on Syria   (5/19/2003)
  A mediation between Syria and the Lebanese opposition   (5/19/2003)
  Al-Bashir meets with Syrian premier   (5/19/2003)
  European Union to implement the Tenet cease-fire Plan and the Mitchell Committee recommendations   (2/1/2002)
  The Mitchell report, full text, part 2   (1/21/2002)

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