Syria- EU Association Agreement to be signed soon
Syria-European Union, Politics, 4/11/2005

Member of the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Rapporteur of the European-Syrian Partnership Association Mrs. Veronique De Kissier expressed hope that the association agreement could be signed as soon as possible, adding that the Europeans are waiting and keen for this signature.

Mrs. De Kissier, in a news conference held at the HQ of the Delegation of the European Commission in Damascus at the conclusion of her visit to Syria, said the agreement is inevitable as part of Barcelona process and represents a very important strategic and geopolitical element for both sides.

She added that the international situation witnesses a rapprochement that could help accelerate the signing of the agreement.

The EU official said that she came to Syria as a friend and a strong supporter to the signing of the association partnership, and to listen to the opinions of the Syrians on this association which should serve the country and its interests.

She also pointed out to the underway reforms in Syria, stressing that all the Syrian officials she met were unanimous on the significance of going ahead with these reforms.

Mrs. De Kissier emphasized that Syria and the EU "totally agree on the agenda of the reforms, but there are priorities regarding the speed of these reforms for each party, as some want to go ahead quickly with them while others prefer to go ahead with slower speed, so the difference in principle is on the pace of reforms not on the reforms themselves."

She acknowledged that the EU should not talk with Syria in diktats "because nobody could accept this, neither us nor them ... we can prove to the American side that the European-Syrian model of relationship could be more practical one." The EU Member of Parliament added that the EU and Syria agree on the necessity of continuing the mutual dialogue regarding the association partnership "which now goes on naturally and meets no exceptional difficulties." She added that Head of the Syrian State Commission, Abdullah Dardari, and Chairman of the Arab and Foreign Relations Committee at the Syrian People's Assembly, Namir Ghanem, were invited to the EU before the end of April to express Syria's point of view and in order not to close its dossier at the European Parliament.

Mrs. De Kissier pointed out that "no deadline was set for the signing of the EU-Syria partnership association ... but in general the process has begun at the European Parliament and will end by vote ... and after that the EU Council has to sign the agreement." The Parliamentary Rapporteur of European-Syrian Partnership Association said "I do believe in the Syrian people ... and I do strongly believe that the agreement will be in their interest, and I do also believe that the agreement will achieve peace and security for Syria."

She concluded that it is very importance that the resolutions of the international community and those of the UN Security Council be implemented away from the double-standard policy otherwise problems will continue to exist in the Middle East.

Previous Stories:
  Syria proceeds implementation of Association Agreement with EU   (3/16/2005)
  Europe asks for scheduling the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon   (3/7/2005)
  EU: No Change in Ties With Syria   (2/17/2005)

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