Al-Assad confers with Saudi ministers on ME developments; free trade zone
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday in Damascus met with the Saudi foreign minister prince Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi minister of Finance Ibrahim al-Assaf and discussed with them Arab and regional conditions, latest developments in the region and bilateral relations.
Present at the meeting were the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and the Saudi ambassador in Damascus Baker Bin Abdullah Baker.
President al-Assad reviewed the deliberations of the Syrian- Saudi higher committee with the Saudi ministers.
Earlier in the day, the Saudi foreign minister arrived in Damascus. In statements relying question out by journalists al-Shara said on coordination and cooperation between Syria and Saudi Arabia that both sides are keen on enhancing bilateral ties to serve issues of interest to the entire Arab nation and to serve common interest.
Concerning the US Secretary of State Colin Powel's coming tour of the region, al-Shara said " It is difficult to predict.. There was some optimism but recent events have discarded part of this optimism due to what has taken place in Iraq. We hope that the affair is temporary and that the US administration would contribute seriously and effectively to solving the region's problems."
About the significance of coincidence between the operations against Iraq and Ariel Sharon's taking of power in Israel, al-Shara said "there is no connection between the two affairs. Though Sharon was in the opposition party, he has, for long, been in power. Barak was systematically depending on Sharon, and he protected him when he visited al-Aqsa Mosque where the problem started and the Intifada broke out," al-Shara said, adding that what is going on now in Israel serves no peace as Israeli rulers, and irrespective of their different belonging, do not want peace, " We hope that their thinking is changed and that the Arabs unite ranks in order to contribute to making this change," the foreign minister said.
Concerning developments in the Gulf region, the Saudi foreign minister told reporters that " we have to say good words as the Arab summit is underway and hope it will deal with this cause substantially." On recent strikes against Iraq, the Saudi foreign minister said Saudi Arabia wishes all dignity and cares for Iraq's unity and sovereignty.
Replying to a question on the Saudi- Syrian, Egyptian coordination before the Arab summit and after Sharon came to power, the Saudi foreign minister said coordination between the three Arab states is incessant as they are keen on supporting the Arab struggle and on ensuring success of the summit with a view to achieving the national Arab interests.
Replying to another question if he is optimistic about the ME peace after Sharon's " No s" proposals, the Saudi foreign minister said he is optimistic of the Arab stand.
On the Arab boycott of Israel, prince al-Faisal said it will continue unabated.
If an agreement to establish the free trade zone between Syria and Saudi Arabia will be signed, he said it will be the first agreement with an Arab state to be concluded in terms of the Arab league joint action program.
The Saudi foreign minister arrived in Damascus earlier in the day. He is accompanied by an official delegation comprising Saudi ministers and officials as well as by a businessmen delegation.
