Paris: No peace without Syria
Syria-France, Politics, 7/21/1998

France has stressed Syria's strategic role in the Middle East region and said that without Syria peace is not attainable.

The assistant spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry said that talks held between President Assad and French President Chirac and other high-ranking officials were carried out in a "climate of great trust." He added that the regional situation and the peace process were the core of the talks.

The assistant spokesman added that President al-Assad has "strongly reiterated" Syria's commitment to peace. He added that convening of the conference for the Middle East peace process was probed and Syria understood its objectives.

The assistant spokesman noted the visit's economic dimension, since the Syrian delegation included high-level economists and businessmen who carried out constructive dialogue with their counterparts.

At the bilateral level, several economic, cultural, scientific and technical issues were also discussed. An agreement to prevent dual taxation was signed, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Syrian Information Minister Muhammad Salman on Monday described President al-Assad's visit to France as successful by "all norms and standards."

At a press conference held on Monday and attended by correspondents from Arab and foreign news agencies and dailies, the minister said talks between Assad and Chirac were fruitful and constructive. He added that Syria and France held similar views towards several issues, foremost being the need for Israel's complete withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories according to Madrid conference principles, international legitimacy resolutions and the land for peace formula.

Salman underlined the importance of reactivating the European role in the suspended Middle East peace process as a result of Netanyahu's anti-peace policy. He stated that al-Assad's visit to France has laid the practical foundations for a Syrian-French and a Syrian-European partnership. Such partnership, he added, would be developed in the future according to basics which would serve the interests of Syria, France and the countries of the European Union.

He added that Arab - European relations would yield better fruits should the Arabs deal with Europe and with the world as a political and economic bloc. "Now, grounds for boosting Arab-European partnership prospects do exist," he said. These, he went on should build on the political relations which have been consolidated during al-Assad's visit to France.

Previous Stories:
  Issues discussed in Assad - Chirac closed door meeting   (7/17/1998)
  Al-Assad in Paris: Peace is Syria's strategic choice   (7/17/1998)
  Vedrine speaks on issues prior to Assad 's visit   (7/13/1998)

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