Al-Assad declines to attend Euro-Mediterranean summit
Syria-Regional-UK, Politics, 11/9/2005

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has received an official invitation to attend the Euro-Med forthcoming summit in Spain, but he apologized from attending due to current conditions in the region, an official source at the Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday.

The source noted that the British ambassador in Damascus was handed over on November 7th a response message to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in his capacity as the standing president of the European Union.

The source added that the message was to answer the official invitation addressed to President Assad on September 26th to attend the Barcelona Euro-Med summit.

"President al-Assad apologized in his response for not being able to take part at the summit due to current conditions the region is passing through," the source noted pointing out that President al-Assad assigned Foreign Minister Farouq al-Sharaa the mission to represent him at the summit.

Meantime, Information Minister Mehdi Dakhlallah strongly today what some mass media circulated of not-inviting President Bashar al-Assad to participate in the Euro-Mediterranean Summit that is scheduled to be held in Barcelona of Spain in 27 and 28 this month.

In a statement to reporters, Dakhllalah pointed out that "President al-Assad has received on September 26, an invitation to take part at the summit by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose country is currently heading the EU."

The minister added that President al-Assad addressed on Nov 7th a massage to Blair in which he expressed regret to take part at the summit deliberations.

The minister added that the "reason behind President Assad's apology was the non signing of the Syrian-European Association Agreement although it had been finalized for some time."

The minister indicated that the Partnership Agreement is very important not only for enhancing the multiple Syrian-European cooperation but also in strengthening the culture of dialogue in international relations, as well in pushing the region towards restoring the lost stability and inclination towards the genuine comprehensive peace.

Dakhlallah pointed out that the date of President al-Assad's massage of apology was before the issuing of the statements related to British Foreign Minister Jack Straw which included "the allegation of not inviting the President to attend the summit."

The Minister stressed the importance of the commitment of the world responsible officials "to present correct information to the mass media in a way that protects the public opinion from deception and false accusations in serving certain political goals."

Previous Stories:
  Abul Gheit: Cooperation with Europe for establishing ME peace   (11/8/2005)
  Egyptian Jordanian papers for Arab solidarity with syria   (11/8/2005)
  Reactions on Mehlis report continue   (11/5/2005)
  Blair does not rule out sanctions on Syria   (10/25/2005)

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