Al-Assad in a two day eventful visit to Spain
Syria-Spain, Politics, 6/2/2004

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Mrs. Asma al-Assad arrived Monday in Spain in a two-day official visit. They were welcomed at Madrid airport by the Spanish foreign minister Miguel Moratinos, the commander of the Spanish armed forces, the assistant for the Spanish King, the Syrian ambassador in Madrid and Arab ambassador accredited to Spain.

The Spanish king And his wife held a special lunch banquet in honor of the President and his wife at Alzarzuela Royal palace. Then the President held a visit to Madrid city water control station.

The President Also met later with a delegation representing Fe- Arab America. The delegation is composed of the first chairman of Fe-Arab American professor Juan Saqqallah, who is also the representative of Fe-Arab chairman; former Fe-Arab President Raphael Mubayed; Rizqalla Touma, Fe- Arab honorary President in Brazil; Syrian honorary consol in Brazil and many others.

The King and Queen of Spain also held a dinner banquet in honor of President al-Assad and Mrs. Asmaa al-Assad. It was attended by members of the delegation accompanying the president and officials representing the two sides.

The President's visit to Spain was widely highlighted by the Spanish media Under the title " President Bashar al-Assad seeks Spanish support to withstand the USA pressure," and " the Syrian President starts today an official visit to Spain during which he also seek to get support for finalizing the Association Agreement with the European Union," the Spanish daily " ABC issued on June 1st said: " The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad starts an official visit to Spain with the objective of seeking support for his country to withstand the pressure of the USA, which recently adopted economic sanctions against Syria, approved by the Bush administration. President al-Assad visited Spain for the first time in May 1, 2001 and opened in Gordova " the Umayyad's exhibition." This second visit of President al-Assad to Spain comes in response to the visit paid by their royal highnesses the King and Queen of Spain to Syria in October 2003." The paper added that since President al-Assad's accession to power in Syria in June 2000, following the death of his late father President Hafez al-Assad, the Syrian President has been maintaining close relations with Spain. President al-Assad made several telephone calls with the former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar.

However, the new Spanish government chaired br Zapatero considered relations with Syria as fundamental, as Syria is viewed the key for the efforts made to solve the conflict in the Middle East. Within this context, the Spanish government which opposed the American sanctions against Syria, as stated by its foreign minister Miguel Moratinos, intends to work with the European Union so as the European Union will take the initiative to revive the already deteriorated peace process in the Middle East.

It is evident that the Spanish supportive attitude for Syria and the Syrian interest to complete the Partnership Association with the European Union will be the focal point in the talks to be held today, Wednesday, between the Spanish Prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero with President Bashar al-Assad.

Today, Wednesday, the President is scheduled to meet with members of the leading delegation of the Spanish people's party which is composed of the party's secretary general Marino Rajo; International relations official Gorje Moragas and former foreign minister Ana Palacio.

The President will then meet with the delegation of the ruling labor socialist party leadership which is composed of Jose Blanco; International relations officials Trinidad Jimenez and the spoeksman for the socialist parliamentary group for foreign relations Rafael Estrella.

The President will also meet today with a delegation representing the representing the united left leadership which is composed of, the general co-ordinator of the united left coalition Gaspar Blamazares; member of the leadership commission and Gordoba governor Rosa Aguilar and international relations official Francisco Perez.

The president is also visit today, Wednesday, the headquarters of the Spanish parliament, where he will be meeting with parliament speaker Manuel Marin.

At the headquarters of the Spanish Cabinet at Almonclua palace, the President will hold talks with the Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and a press conference is to be followed.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad to visit Spain next week   (5/28/2004)
  Al-Shara meets with Spanish Minister of State for Foreign Affairs   (5/27/2004)
  Spain's FM stresses al-Assad's forthcoming visit to Spain   (5/15/2004)

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