Hani al-Hassan; Catholic marriage between us and Syria

Member of the executive committee of the " Fatah " Movement and the official in charge of the foreign relations Hani al-Hassan has stressed that " establishing relations with Damascus is a must because Syria is a key country in running the political process with the Israelis."

In a press conference organized by the Arab press club in Paris on Tuesday, al-Hassan talked about the forthcoming meeting between the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat and the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus in the mid of this month. He explained:" we have started to re- consider all our relations with the Arab states on grounds of understanding for the Palestinian strategy, which is now undoubtedly in a new phase."

Al-Hassan expressed his hope in " reaching an agreement on all matters with the Syrians in a way that each side will be obliged to maintain an agreement on the table of negotiations but with each side to run the political process, his own way." He added " we are very happy to visit Syria. There is an inseparable Catholic marriage with the countries of Bilad al-Shaam and it is difficult for any of us to get divorced from the other."