Al-Assad discusses with the European Troika delegation reviving ME peace, fighting terrorism

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday at the Damascus als- Shaab palace received the Belgian prime minister, who is the chairman of the European council and the chairman of the European Commission Romano Prpodi.

The meeting was attended by the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara, the EU ME special representative Miguel Moratinos, the Belgian ambassador in Damascus Henry Arcq and the EU head of mission in Damascus Marc Perieni.

The European delegation congratulated Syria over its election as a member at the UN Security Council and considered that its representation in this council is a valuable opportunity to brief on the Syrian view pints towards what is taking place not only in the region but also in the world especially in light of her active role in the Euro- Mediterranean relations.

During the meeting the two sides discussed the ME peace process and it was agreed t revive it on all tracks, to implement UN security council resolutions concerned and to abide by the Madrid terms of reference.

The question of terrorism and means of fighting it was also reviewed.

The President stressed that " we can not make a distinction between the question of peace and terrorism and we have to find out how we can avoid reasons that lead to terrorism which will be expanded unless we deal with it in a reasonable and objective way, based on analyzing terrorism as a phenomenon." The President encouraged the EU and the US to find out the elements and draw the clear criteria in order to provide the ME peace process a success and to define the side responsible for not implementing these criterion and norms when enacted and put into actual implementation.

President al- Assad also warned against the consequences of the Israeli provocation in South Lebanon and called for halting the practices so as to maintain the stability of the region..

Al-Assad continued that what Israel claims on having security before peace is not correct because security is a result of peace.