Syrian- Egyptian concern over the Israeli incursion in Iraq; al-Shara: threats to Syria do not serve Israel
Regional-Israel, Politics, 7/23/2004

The Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara yesterday announced that the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will pay a visit to Egypt "within the few coming days."

Al-Shara and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmad Abu al-Gheit warned against the consequences of the "dividing" Israeli presence in northern Iraq on the future of the region. They indicated that the Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zeibari promised to give a report on this matter in the next meeting of the neighboring states.

Commenting on the recent Israeli threats against Syria, al-Shara said " this aggressive attitude does not serve Israel." He also called on the Palestinian groups to serve national unity.

Al-Shara explained that he had conveyed to President Hosni Mubarak a message from al-Assad on the situation " in Iraq and Palestine," noting that the " two issues are painful." Al-Assad's message pertains to bilateral relations between the two countries and current developments in the region, and in particular what pertains to Iraq and Palestine."

Al-Shara carried a reply message to the Syrian students and al-Shara announced that al-Assad will pay a visit to Egypt within the " few coming days." On the Iraqi issue, al-Shara asked on the Israeli incursion in Iraq and warned it might be an element in " dividing " for Iraq's unity. He said " lengthy talks were made on the possibilities of the Israeli incursions in Iraq," in the meetings of the foreign ministers of countries adjoining Iraq which was completed on Wednesday in Cairo. He added " there was a general concern expressed by the ministers on this matter and all were cautious over the possibilities of Israeli presence in Iraq." The Syrian minister also stressed that Damascus "does every think possible to control the borders. It is a sensitive matter and we have realized its importance," adding that Syria notified one Iraqi minister visited it several days ago that " it is ready to cooperate " in the security field.

In the first Syrian reaction to the recent Israeli threats against it, al-Shara said " this statement is old and repeated. This aggressive attitude does not serve Israel, at first nor the peace process in the region. It is enough for Israel what it had received in recent years of troubles and opposite migration instead of bringing in immigrants and the bad reputation and its lack of credibility in the world."

Previous Stories:
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  Sits in in Beirut, Amman against the wall of separation   (7/10/2004)
  Israel intends to send envoys to Arab states   (6/21/2004)

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