Al-Shara meets with EU commissioner

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara met on Tuesday evening with the European Union Commissioner for foreign relations, Christopher Patten.

The meeting was attended by the deputy foreign minister, Siba Nasser, and the direct of the West Europe department at the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Muhammad Ali al-Hamwi. The meeting was also attended by the head of the EU delegation in Damascus, Marc Piereni.

The two sides exchanged viewpoints on the Middle East peace process and its recent developments in light of Geneva summit between Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and US President Bill Clinton.

Stress was laid on the importance of the European role in giving a push forward to the stumbled Middle East peace process.

Relations between Syria and the European Union and means of developing them were also reviewed.

On Tuesday morning Patten arrived in Amman in a short visit to Jordan during which me met with Jordan's King Abdullah and high-ranking Jordanian officials, during which talks dealt with economic relations between Jordan and the EC and means of reactivating the peace process.

In an arrival statement in Amman, Patten said he will discuss with the Jordanian King and several Jordanian ministers bilateral relations and means of strengthening and consolidating area of joint cooperation.

Meanwhile, the head of the EU delegation in Amman, James Moran, underlined in a statement the importance of Patten's visit because it comes at a time when the peace process is facing several challenges. He stressed the interest of the EU and its firm connection to the developments of the peace process.

He indicated that Patten's tour will cover six states where he will discuss with them ways of revitalizing the peace process and giving it a push forward.

Jordanian official sources said that Patten will sign during his visit agreements according to which the European Union will present aid to Jordan worth a total of $122 million.