Maltese foreign minister in Damascus

Malta's Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Guido De Marco arrived in Damascus on Sunday night.

In an arrival statements at the airport, where he was welcomed by Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sahraa and senior Foreign Ministry officials, the Maltese minister expressed happiness over visiting Syria "at the invitation of al-Sharaa," citing the key role Syria plays in the Barcelona meeting (on Euro-Mediterranean partnership) and in the Middle East.

The visiting minister said that during this visit he will hold talks with Syrian officials concerning the Middle East peace process, cooperation between the EU and Syria, and other issues of mutual concern. De Marco stressed Syria's role in the region, "a matter which should be taken into account in defining the fate of the region in the future."

He indicated the forthcoming meeting between the countries of the EU and the Mediterranean states is be held in Stuttgart in April and a meeting will precede it in Valetta on March 4-5.