Syria seeks active role in international arena
Syria, Politics, 7/10/1998

Diplomatic sources in the Syrian capital said that, "Syria seeks to restore her role in the international arena. To do so it strengthened ties with the European Union and France."

The sources added that Syrian officials have decided to take initiatives on the diplomatic front as a result of Syrian realization of the difficulties to make progress in the Middle East with the US or with the Israeli government led by Netanyahu.

Syria has concluded an agreement with the World Bank to repay its debts. A matter described by the World Bank circles as "fundamental change in relations" between it and international financial institutions, relations which have been fairly frozen since the beginning of the 1980s. Damascus pays monthly installments estimated at US $6 million to the World Bank.

In the meantime, Damascus is negotiating with the European Union with the objective to reach an Association Agreement which will lead to the establishment of a free trade zone between the two sides.

Previous Stories:
  Reshuffle in key political, military and security posts in Syria   (7/7/1998)
  Euro-mission chief: Syria has self-sustaining economy, needs modernization   (6/12/1998)
  Syrian exports rise by 6 percent   (9/27/1997)

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