On al-Sharaa's visit to Moscow
Syria-Russia, Politics, 2/18/1999

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa said the talks he held together with members of his accompanying delegation in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov are complying with the deeply-rooted relations linking Syria and Russia.

In a joint press conference he held on Wednesday with his Russian counterpart Ivanov at the conclusion of their talks, the Syrian foreign minister expressed his satisfaction over the results of the talks, which dealt with "regional and international issues and bilateral relations."

Al-Sharaa said that Russia is one of the Middle East peace process cosponsors. "Besides, Russia's geographical nearness to the Middle East are all factors which made of a Russian role a key factor in providing the Middle East peace process a success as well as to achieve security and stability in the Middle East."

Al-Sharaa asserted that topics covered by talks on regional, bilateral and international issues demonstrated the two countries' "identical viewpoints regarding all debated issues."

Replying to a question on military cooperation between Syria and Russia and the meeting with the Russian defense minister, al-Sharaa said: "Relations between Syria and Russia are very old and cover all fields, including the military domain and the technology. It is natural then that such cooperation will be renewed."

Al-Sharaa added, "However, Syria is defending herself and does not intend to launch aggressions against anyone. But what is taking place around us, proves the bad intentions of others around us. Israel occupies part of our lands and is maintaining armament rapidly and frequently launch threats, which make it necessary to us to be provided with what is necessary for defending ourselves."

The Syrian foreign minister asserted that Syria calls for just and comprehensive peace and that "Syria's strategic option" is to have peace. "We are hopeful, that the option of the other side (in reference to Israel) is also peace."

The Syrian FM called upon the media not to depict the matter as if "Syria is violating the balance in the region, and to know that Syria equips itself of arms constituting only 10 percent of what Israel provides itself of weapons."

He asserted that Israel is the only state in the Middle East which owns nuclear weapons and all types of weapons of mass destruction, and that Israel is the only one in the Middle East that exports weapons.

For his part, Ivanov said that Syria is considered one of the main countries in the Middle East: "Without taking into account Syria's stand, none of the Middle East region's problems will be settled."

He added, "The Russian side gives special significance to consultations with our Syrian friends." Ivanov said that issues pertaining to the Middle East peace process were given top priorities in his talks with al-Sharaa as well as bilateral relations and urgent international issues.

The Russian minister added that talks with al-Sharaa "built our joint confidence on the need to continue and hold firm in the Middle East peace negotiations which are to be continued from results already attained, to attain progress on all negotiations tracks and the cohesion between the Syrian and Lebanese tracks because a progress cannot be made unless a genuine progress is attained on the two said tracks."

Ivanov continued that during the meeting with al-Sharaa talks dealt with the conditions in the Gulf region and the Balkan.

"Stress was laid on the determination of the Syrian and Russian sides to strengthen and develop cooperation on all levels for mutual benefits and for serving stability in the Middle East," he said.

Al-Sharaa also met with the chairman of the Russian Duma, Genadi Seleznov. Talks dealt with the international situation, developments in the region and bilateral relations between Syria and Russia.

Al-Sharaa on Wednesday held in Moscow similar talks with the Russian minister of the Interior.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian Foreign Minister conveys a message from al-Assad to Yeltsin   (2/17/1999)
  On al-Sharaa's visit to Russia   (2/13/1999)
  Al-Sharaa to visit Moscow on February 16   (2/12/1999)

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