On President al-Assad's visit to Moscow
Syria-Russia, Politics, 7/5/1999

Official Syrian sources told the Lebanese daily al-Nahar that President Hafez al-Assad's talks with the Russian President Boris Yeltsin in Moscow, in which the Syrian president is to arrive today, will not deal with the question of the delayed Syrian debts to Russia, stressing the economic and strategic dimensions of al-Assad's visit to Moscow.

The Syrian sources added, "It is silly to think that the two presidents will discuss during a historic visit as such matters of concern to technical committees."

The Syrian sources added that the question of debts which are estimated by Moscow as US $11 billion and as much less by the Syrian side is left to "ministries concerned." The sources, moreover, highlighted "the great economic importance" of al-Assad's visit which will last for two days, noting that the delegation accompanying President Hafez al-Assad includes the Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa as well as the ministers of the economy and foreign trade, finance, industry and agriculture.

Meanwhile, the sources described the visit as "historical," especially as it is the first for President al-Assad since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. They also focused on its "strategic dimensions" with the beginning of the countdown for resuming peace negotiations with the new Israeli government.

The Syrian daily al-Baath said that this "extraordinary visit" would contribute to "developing and accelerating bilateral cooperation towards backing mutual interests but away from the policy of axes."

Diplomatic sources in Damascus also indicated the importance of the visit for Russia, which is trying to prove its own weight and presence in the region, a presence ever minimized by the US, despite its admission that Russia is a cosponsor in the Middle East peace process and amid competition made by major world states to give their services in helping in making peace between Syria and Israel.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad in Moscow on Monday   (7/3/1999)
  Al-Assad expected in Moscow on Monday   (7/2/1999)
  Contacts on president al-Assad's visit to Moscow   (6/2/1999)

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