New UN Hariri probe head makes first Syria visit
Lebanon-Syria-UN, Politics, 2/25/2006

The new head of the UN inquiry into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri made his first visit to Syria on Thursday where he met with Foreign Minister Walid Muaallem, Syria's official news agency said.

Serge Brammertz's visit lasted a few hours, his spokeswoman Nasra Hassan said, but she gave no details on what he discussed.

Brammertz's spokeswoman said he had held "a good meeting" with Syrian officials, but did not say who they were.

"He held a working meeting with Syrian officials in which old and new issues of co-operation were discussed," Nasrat Hasan said.

Brammertz discussed "pending and new issues" with Syrian government officials during his visit of a "few hours," she said. She declined to reveal the issues or name the officials, saying that was for the Syrian government to do.

One of the issues that Brammertz is likely to have raised is the commission's request to interview Syrian President Bashar Assad, who is alleged to have threatened Hariri in a private meeting several months before the Feb. 14, 2005, assassination.

Assad, who has denied threatening Hariri, has so far indicated he is not prepared to be interviewed.

Judicial sources said "Brammertz also met with the Syrian probe investigating the assassination of Hariri headed by Judge Mohammad al-Khatib."

They said the aim of the visit was to "sound out the Syrian authorities on cooperation with the commission and to discuss the framework for interrogating Syrian suspects and witnesses."

They said that Brammertz's visit to Damascus lasted four hours and was carried out under very tight parameters.

The sources added that "Brammertz presented the Syrians with a list of security officers and high-ranking politicians he demanded to hear from," but could not confirm whether President Bashar al-Assad or his new Vice President Faroua al-Sharaa were included on the list.

Meantime, Syria spoke on Thursday of Brammertz meeting with senior officials in Damascus was positive.

Foreign Minister Walid al-Muaallem held a meeting yesterday with UN investigator Serge Brammerz in attendance of chairman of the Special Syrian committee to investigate Hariri killing and a number of experts and advisers.

Talks during the meeting dealt with means of making the UN investigating committee doing its task, the foreign ministry said noting that "the meeting yielded positive results."

Meantime, the UN spokesperson in Beirut described the meeting as very good pointing at the same time that it was a business one.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanese crowds commemorate Hariri assassination anniversary   (2/15/2006)
  Amal: UN Hariri assassination probe should not be politicized   (2/14/2006)
  Daily Star: Brammertz concentrates on interviewing Syrians   (1/31/2006)

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