Shara: Iraq's accusations on border problems inaccurate
Syria-Regional, Politics, 7/28/2005

Syria on Tuesday rejected Iraq's accusations on lax border controls between the two countries as "inaccurate" and said the aim of these claims was to distract from the inability of the Iraqi government to control security in the country.

Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara told journalists in an annual meeting with them, that Syria has the will to establish the best of ties with Iraq, and that she is interested in neighboring countries help Iraq to surmount the standing situation and keep Iraq's unity as well achieve his security and stability.

Indicating that a Syrian official team, sent to Iraq to look at evidence Iraq has on accusations that Iraq has been making against Syria, found that there was no proof presented to them. "That is what has been figured out after the visit of the Syrian security and diplomatic delegation recently to Iraq," al-Shara said noting that the aim of these accusations is to, "distract from the fact of the security absence in Iraq and to shift blame onto others," the minister said.

He added that after two years of the war's end, developments in Iraq had proved the "objectivity and credibility of the Syrian anti-war position, and in return, it is clarified by events and facts the wrong calculations of those who marketed the war." On the Syrian-US relations, Shara underlined Syria's readiness to continue dialogue with the US Administration, "If the US wants that, there are points of agreement between the two countries over the regional issues, mainly those related to Iraq's security and territories integrity." He noted that "we want to see the Americans leaving the region with outcomes to the benefit of Iraq and the regional countries's stability and prosperity.

Shara said the proposed Israeli pullout from Gaza Strip poses many questions, the most important of which are the nature of this withdrawal. "If the pullout of Gaza Strip is constituting a first step towards the Palestinian aspirations, then it is welcomed, but if it poses as a step to close the door in front of other issues like settlement and the wall of separation as well the 'right to return', Jerusalem, then we don't think that this step will meet the Palestinian people aspirations," the foreign minister said.

Regarding the Syrian- Lebanese relations, al-Shara said "what we hear of statements point out that the Lebanese are committed to distinguished ties with Syria and that is what was stated about Syria in the ministerial statement of the new Lebanese government," and called to optimism, on the future of ties between the two sisterly countries asserting that the "issue of trucks (broder crossing delays) is a security and temporary issue."

Over talks on holding a Arab summit, Shara said the idea is good but the most important thing is its success and what could be achieved. "The most important thing is to achieve Arab solidarity and to get out of the standing split situation and isolation among Arab countries," he said.

He applauded the call of each of British Premier Tony Blair and the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on holding a conference to define terrorism, saying they in line with the position announced by the late immortal President Hafez al-Assad in 1986 on holding a conference to define what terrorism is and distinguish it from the legal resistance for occupation and means of fighting it.

The minister talked about the standing argument over the UN reforms and future of its role, noting that future role of the UN, "depends on the international powers equilibrium," and stressed that Syria wanted the reform and the restructuring of the UN in a way that boosts states independence and non interference in their own affairs, as well to boost their role in solving international conflicts and keep international security and peace in addition to not be engaged in marginal issues that have little to do with basic UN function, role and charter.

He praised Syria's steadfastness in light of pressing international circumstances noting that "it was a pride for every Syrian" and that "we must not allow despair to creep into our spirit."

Previous Stories:
  Syria starts handing over Arab detainees   (7/26/2005)
  Syrian aid convoy heads to Iraq   (7/25/2005)
  Syria is backing the political process in Iraq: al-Muallem   (7/22/2005)
  Al-Jazeera: Al-Muallem stresses Syria's keenness on Iraq Security   (7/20/2005)
  Al-Assad confers with Arab League chief   (7/18/2005)
  Sharaa discusses with Amr Moussa Iraq and Palestine   (7/18/2005)

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