Syrian information minister stresses that Refaat al-Assad port in Lattakia was demolished
Syria, Politics, 11/16/1999

Syrian Minister of Information Muhammad Salman has talked about the killing of guards of "an illegal port" for Refaat al-Assad, the brother of the Syrian president, in Lattakia in an attack launched by the Syrian police in October.

In his meeting with representatives of the foreign mass media currently visiting Syria on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the Correctionist Movement, Salman added, "The decision taken to demolish this illegal port was taken after Dr. Refaat al-Assad has repeatedly refused to honor the decision taken by the Ministry of Transport of 1995 to eliminate it, despite the many warnings addressed to him." The Syrian minister added that during the demolition of the port, "Its guards opened fire against the policemen and wounded many of them, and the policemen returned fire, and the result was that one of the guards and the shooter were killed."

Salman went on to say, "When Refaat al-Assad was a vice president, he built a small house on the coastal area of Lattakia and later on he built a building and a port on an area of 11,410 square kilometers owned by the Ministry of Defense."

Salman continued that this very port was used for illegal activities, especially smuggling, and that Refaat "owned ships in that port." Salman added that this "port was actually demolished and installations built on a state-owned lands were collapsed. This port is an unprecedented violation of the law that we cannot accept."

He added that, "No members of Refaat's family were at the house built inside the port." He added it seems that, "Refaat al-Assad is now in Spain, and if he will return to Syria he will be tried as an outlaw person."

On the political future of Bashar al- Assad, son of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, the Syrian minister said, "There is a constitution in Syria and a law which organizes the role of establishments and appointing posts to any person;" therefore, when matters will reach the level that Bashar al-Assad will be assigned "a position," the leadership concerned will meet to take this decision.

He asserted, "Bashar al-Assad is not the first and only man who makes political contacts" without having any official post. He said, "We received the envoy for the French President Jacques Chirac, and he had no official representation," in reference to former French Foreign Minister Herve De Charette.

He indicated that Bashar al-Assad, a member in the Baath party, is "a young man who is popular in Syria for his work and activities."

Previous Stories:
  Economic reforms in Syria   (11/15/1999)
  Raf'at al-Assad's port closed down in Lattakia   (10/21/1999)
  Raf'at al-Assad dismissed from Ba'ath Party   (2/13/1998)
  Syrian President relieves his brother from post of Vice President   (2/9/1998)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search