Al-Shara holds talks with Spanish peer
Syria-Spain, Politics, 9/15/2003

Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara received on Saturday Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ana Maria Palacio.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the latest developments in the region particularly in Iraq and the occupied Palestinian territories.

The talks also dealt with the meeting of the foreign ministers who are UN. Security Council permanent members scheduled to be held in Geneva today on Iraq.

Foreign Minister al-Shara stressed that Syria wants the deliberations of the meeting to reflect the will of the Iraqi people in the first place and to ensures the unity, sovereignty and independence of the Iraqi territories by giving a pivotal role to the United Nations.

He also stressed the important role of the neighboring states in the efforts that are being exerted for finding a political solution to the Iraqi issue in order to have stability and security restored in Iraq.

In reply to a question on Syria and Spain's position regarding Iraq and the US. new draft resolution on Iraq, al-Shara indicated that the two countries want to preserve the unity and sovereignty of Iraq and to see Iraq getting rid of occupation soonest possible so that an elected and legitimate government which represents all the Iraqi people is established.

Regarding the detained journalist Teiser Allouni in Spain, al-Shara indicated that Syria has raised the issue with the Spanish authorities and they are acting according to well known laws in these cases.

Regarding a question whether there are US. pressures in order to intervene in the internal affairs of Syria, al-Shara underlined that even if there exist such pressures, Syria will never comply with them.

For her part, Palacio indicated that her talks centered on the situation in the region and on the Israeli government decision in principle to deport Yasser Arafat, a decision that Spain considers as a big mistake.

She added that talks also dealt with the draft resolution that Syria has proposed at the UN. Security Council.

Regarding Iraq and US. draft resolution at the UN. Security Council Palacio said that the main basis on which the resolution should be is the pivotal role of the United Nations and the vital role of the neighbouring countries such as Syria in rebuilding Iraq and ensuring its stability and return to the fold of the international community.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Shara phone call from Spanish counterpart Ana Palacio   (8/12/2003)
  Syria for boosting cooperation relations with Spain   (7/22/2003)
  Syria and signing the AA with the EU   (7/22/2003)

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