Europe discusses partnership with Damascus despite Washington's sanctions
Syria-European Union, Politics, 5/17/2004

The European Union has announced it is determined to continue its co-operation with Syria and to finalize an Association Agreement despite the economic sanctions imposed by the US on it, recently.

The European Commission Vice President in charge of energy and transport files Ms Loyola De Palacio expressed in a press conference held on Sunday at the Damascus Meridian hotel her hope to finalize the Association Agreement between Syria and the European Union as soon as possible.

Replying to a question on Europe's position towards the American economic sanctions prescribed on Syria since Tuesday, Ms Palacio said in Damascus that the "European Union will pursue the long- term policy " with Syria.

She denied that the US had made pressure to prevent the agreement between Syria and the EU. She indicated that the Americans " did not tell us any thing. Did not make a pressure. we implement our own strategy."

She also reiterated " the desire of the European union to end the negotiations with Syria as soon as possible, because there are still pending issues pertinent to the weapons of mass destruction." The press conference, however, came after Palacio's meeting with the Syrian prime minister Naji Otari and several ministers including the minister of oil Ibrahim Haddad, the minister of transport Makram Obeid and the minister of electricity Munib Saem al-Daher during which discussions dealt with accelerating EU- Syria cooperation in the fields of gas, oil and electricity.

A statement read by the European Union said that discussions between Palacio and Otari dealt in particular with the issue of Syria's joining the " regional energy network." Palacio considered that it is very urgent that Syria to accelerate structural reforms and rebuild its own energy sector. She indicated that " building a regional gas market is an element of stability in the Middle East." However, Syria and Libya are the only two countries overlooking the Mediterranean who have not yet signed the Association Agreement with the European union which states the establishment of a Euro- Med Zone for free trade.

After long negotiations with Syria, a dispute over one clause relating to the weapons of mass destruction resulted to postponing this agreement after it was expected by the beginning of 2004.

Previous Stories:
  Syria's interventions at Dublin's meeting by al-Shara   (5/7/2004)
  Dutch and German flexibility, the complex is with Britain, Partnership with Syria to be discussed on May 17   (5/6/2004)
  Al-Shara welcomes EU enlargement   (5/3/2004)

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