Syrian - Egyptian committee statements
Syria-Egypt, Politics, 12/23/2003

Syria's Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otari said his talks Monday with his Egyptian counterpart Atef Obeid and the accompanying delegation were held as part of a stage in which the region witnesses more chaos, disorder and tensions with repercussions not only touching the Palestinian and Iraqi arenas, but also covers more than one Arab area in itself.

Otari, speaking at the start of the Syrian-Egyptian Higher Committee in presence of both states' delegations, added that the Arab states, under the absence of the international resolution and under the logic of force, have become targeted under pretexts of terrorism or under the claim of possession and development of mass destruction weapons. Such false pretexts are taken as justification to intervene into the internal affairs of the Arab states and hurt their independence in the service of Israel interests and its hostile, expansionist plots. He said Damascus has repeatedly called in regional and international meetings for building a balanced world to fight terrorism, violence, poverty and unemployment.

The prime minister added that Syria has called on several occasions for establishing a balanced relation with the USA, on the basis mutual cooperation, interaction and respect, as Syria recognizes that the language of dialogue is more fruitful in settling disputes and differences and the treatment of the region's problems, and its chronic and obstinate cries. He said that Syria expressed in several occasions condemnation of all forms of violence and terrorism, and matched words with deeds, and voiced real willingness to establish just and comprehensive peace in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, "Madrid terms of reference" and the land-for-peace formula.

"The Arab Beirut peace initiative, which was ignored by the current Israeli government, was a precious opportunity for peace in which the Arabs declared commitment to the requirements of peace in return to Israeli total withdrawal from all the occupied Arab lands and observing the legitimate rights of Palestinians," he said.

The Premier said "no doubt that bringing stability to the region has become impossible without finding a solution to the Iraqi issue to put an end to the suffering of the Iraqi people and reassure their right in determining their own political future by themselves under a vital, wider role given to the UN, particularly supervision on the writing of the constitution and elections as well as a timetable for ending the foreign occupation," he asserted.

For his part, Egyptian Premier said "we had the honor to hold a brotherly meeting with his excellency President Bashar al-Assad, and we understood his directives on the necessity of joint work for durable development of trade between the two countries." He added that he agrees with all the issues Syria's Premier Otari talked about in his statement, saying the "great challenges, to which Arab Nation is exposed to, require maximum degrees of awareness and unity and keeping away from dissection and partition." Obied stresses that Egypt supports Syria's in the restoration of its rights and the return to the June 4th 1967 borders, and supports Lebanon's right in the restoration of occupied Shabaa Farms and the diffuse of serious tension in the South. Both sides later agreed at the end of today's talks to follow up on the meetings tomorrow on the level of ministers ahead of presenting their proposals and recommendations to the final meeting of the Higher Committee.

Previous Stories:
  Sherif for enhancing Syria- Egyptian cooperation   (12/20/2003)
  Al-Baz: Syria opts for just and comprehensive peace   (11/14/2003)
  Syrian- Egyptian talks on improving trade   (11/11/2003)
  Syrian- Egyptian closer cooperation ties   (11/10/2003)
  Egyptian consultative council deplores practices against the palestinians, voices solidarity for syria   (11/6/2003)
  Syrian- Egyptian oil cooperation   (10/6/2003)

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