Information minister outlines policy towards development
Syria, Politics, 4/8/2004

Syria's Information Minister Ahmad al-Hasan on Wednesday said that "we are concerned with what happens in Iraq and share the Iraqi people their suffering under the foreign occupation."

In a press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Michael Smaha, Hassan stressed the necessity for UN to restore its legitimate role adding what is happening in Iraq is a violation of the international relations.

Concerning the media cooperation between Syria and Lebanon, Hasan said that the cooperation media program signed in Beirut today is an advanced step in the field of media cooperation between the two states.

"The cooperation will help in uncovering the allegations and bids of distorting the realties, our duty is to clear the right and defend it," he said.

He denied any US threats against Syria, adding that it is a difference in visions.

"We are holding dialogues with Americans regarding some pending issues, but some media try to exaggerate the matter," he went on.

Regarding the Syrian-Iraqi borders, Hasan said that our official border points are secured and no one sneaks from them.

Concerning the riots which broke out in al-Hasaka city, he said that what happened was very odd to our unified society, because we live, Arab and Kurds, as brothers.

" What happened was not innocent, especially as it coincided with the attacks on Syrian embassies outside, and this asserts that there were criminal people linked to foreign sides," he added.

Information Minister also talked about weapons of mass destruction stressing that Syria doesn't possess such weapons and Israel possesses the nuclear weapon, and Syria, from a good intention, submitted a project to free the Middle East from weapons of mass destruction.

He underlined that whenever President Bashar al-Assad meets US or British officials, he always tell them that "you know the mentality prevailed in the region, and you are very distant, we know much of the people here, and you may start a war, but you are not able to expect its end."

He said that the Arab summit should focus on two issues, the Arab-Israeli conflict and Iraq, and instead of giving the priority to these issues, the priority was given to the so-called "the Greater Middle East initiative."

Smaha, for his part, said that the program of media cooperation is a successful step and it should be extended to include other Arab states.

He stressed the necessity of prevailing the law and justice to remove the terrorism and defend our rights, adding that "the Israeli terrorism is the biggest international terrorism."

Previous Stories:
  Chirac receives Khaddam: Great concern over the deterioration of condition in Iraq   (4/7/2004)
  Lahoud highlights Syria's role in Lebanon   (4/7/2004)
  Al-Assad in Qatar, meets with Emir   (4/7/2004)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search