EU diplomat is optimistic over EU-Syria association accomplishment
Syria-European Union, Politics, 8/18/2004

A senior European diplomat at the EU delegation in Damascus on Monday expressed hope over prospects to finalize the EU-Syria Association Agreement and said cooperation between the two sides is very strong.

" I feel optimistic that discussions will be fruitful in the near future and contacts will be ongoing soon," Christos Komninos, Charges d' Affairs of the European Union delegation to Syria told SANA.

"In last December the negotiations have reached a step very close to finalization, We are quite confident that the two sides share the same principles the same values and we have common goals," he said. Komninos added that the European Union is going this year in 2004 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of presence of the European delegation in Syria, stressing that the Syrian-EU cooperation is very strong and long-standing.

Meanwhile, Komninos ruled out that the EU is exposed to any US pressures regarding the weapons of mass destruction issue regarding Syria's position on this subject, but rather he expressed the EU concern over adherence to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"I think it would be incorrect statement, the EU is very concerned about adherence to the Non-Proliferation Treaty NPT which is expressed in a very formal way at the council decision last NovemberÉ this clause is the sole product of internal EU discussions which once again I want to stress doesn't aim at any specific country. It is a standard policy nowadays for the EU." He said The EU official added that the Europeans are aware that the Syrian government is also concerned about the presence of WMD and all conscious of the initiative the Syrian government has made within the framework of the UN to this goal.

Komninos emphasized that the Europeans are playing a main political role in the region in order to realize the just and comprehensive peace.

"The EU is a key player in the Middle East peace process and we do try everything which is in our force to help all concerned parties to reach the comprehensive peace agreement," He said noting that the EU has been a major donor to the Palestinian Authority.

He said we are a main donor to the Palestinian Authority and we are also present in the framework of the Roadmap in the Quartet Committee so I hope that these will lead to achieve a just and comprehensive final solution.

The EU is helping Syria to develop business, higher education and health sectors as part of Barcelona process cooperation with Mediterranean countries.

The Syrian European Business Center "SEBC" supports the development of small- and medium-sized private enterprises (SME), which are called to play an increasing role in a more liberalized Syrian economy.

The objective is to increase their competitiveness and the efficiency of SME, support institutions in view of the progressive transition towards a market economy.

Two business centers, one each in Damascus and Aleppo, are in charge of implementing the activities throughout the country.

The EU is also working to develop the health sector in Syria with a program 30 million Euros. Higher Institute of Business Administration HIBA aims at fine tuning the knowledge of Syrian people post graduate in building administration so they can be better representatives for their companies and at the end of the day for their own country.

Previous Stories:
  EU expects partnership with Syria in September   (8/4/2004)
  EU' s President of Social and Economic Committee in Damascus supports the Association Agreement   (7/23/2004)
  Solana Advisor holds talks with al-Shara   (7/16/2004)

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