Syrian - European partnership talks start on Wednesday
Syria-European Union, Politics, 5/12/1998

European - Syrian official partnership talks will start in Brussels on Wednesday. An official Syrian source told a Monte Carlo radio correspondent in Damascus that these talks will mark official start of negotiations between Syria and the European Union following a lengthy preliminary talks lasted for more one year.

Syrian Planning Minister Tawfiq Ismael will lead the Syrian delegation to Brussels talks, comprising representatives of ministries concerned with the partnership, including the ministries of economy, finance, planning and foreign affairs.

The director of west Europe department at the Syrian Foreign Ministry Seba Nasser will represent Syria during these talks. However, the sources did not conceal their pessimism over the speed of these talks, as it noted that the negotiations will be "hard, long and full of obstacles."

But the sources indicated Syria's seriousness towards a partnership with Europe, noting the that Syria has taken a strategic decision in this respect, especially in its persistent call upon Europe to carry out a more active economic and political role in the region that can break the one-pole hegemony, represented by the U.S..

However, partnership between Syria and the European Union is preconditioned by main aspects including economic openness in Syria, a process which the EU demands be accelerated, whereas Damascus believe this process has to be slow so as not to drag Syria into economic problems resulting from hasty openness.

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