Arabic News Weekly Edition for Syria, 3/2/1998
Weekly Edition, Syria - Week of March 2, 1998
- Another 20 Lebanese released from Syrian jails Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/7/1998
- New Turkish foreign ministry team to improve relations with Arab states
The Turkish daily "Daily news" on Wednesday said that the Turkish Foreign Ministry is working hard to develop a new Turkish policy towards the Middle East so as to improve relations with neighboring states and Arab nations. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 3/6/1998 - Palestinian official describes visit to Damascus as successful
Palestinian Cabinet Secretary Assad Abdul Rahman, described his visit to Damascus as very successful and at the same time denied reports by the Israeli radio that he did not meet with any Syrian officials. Palestine-Syria, Politics, 3/6/1998 - President al-Assad confers with Lebanese minister on bilateral relations Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/6/1998
- Al-Sharaa wraps up Lebanon visit
Al-Sharaa voiced Syria's solidarity with Lebanon in refusing the proposed conditional Israeli implementation of Resolution 425, noting that the Syrian and Lebanese positions agree on this issue. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/6/1998 - Syria hands over Lebanese prisoners
After a brief stop during which they waved and smiled at the cheering crowd, the prisoners were transferred to two Lebanese army buses which took them to the military police headquarters in the capital, Beirut. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/6/1998 - Syrian foreign minister rebuffs Israeli withdrawal offer
"Resolution 425 is like a court verdict. It cannot be subject to interpretation," Sharaa said after talks with Lebanese Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz, referring to the United Nations resolution, adopted twenty years ago, which calls on Israel to withdraw its troops unconditionally from Lebanon. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/5/1998 - Damascus hosts Syrian-Dutch trade contact meeting
An agri-business mission from the Netherlands will visit Syria from March 23-26 to explore possibilities for additional trade and investment. The mission will focus on food and agriculture, including food processing, horticulture, animal husbandry, agricultural machinery, and food products. Syria, Business, 3/5/1998 - Syrian premier confers with Arab Red Cross, Crescent societies chief Syria, Local, 3/5/1998
- 130 Lebanese prisoners to be released from Syrian jails
Lebanese sources said that only 25 Lebanese will remain in the Syrian jails after being convicted of espionage for Israel. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/4/1998 - Syria's Khaddam offers surprising remarks and future vision
Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam said it is important to build a new Arab system and new Arab partnership capable of preserving the interests of the Arab nation. Syria-Regional, Politics, 3/3/1998 - Palestinian envoy in Damascus
The sources said Syrian officials had not so far received him, noting "He carries a Palestinian desire to reopen the file of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and Syria after Israel neglected this matter Palestine-Syria, Politics, 3/3/1998 - New Syria-Turkish dialogue
Spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry Sarmad Atanknli said his country seeks to start a new dialogue with Syria in order to improve the tense relations between the two countries, resulting from successive disputes. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 3/3/1998 - Syria challenges Israel to move forward on peace
Syria's ambassador to Washington, Walid Mu'allem, last week stated that Syria is ready to start negotiations "tommorrow" if Israel wants peace and is willing to continue negotiations from the point at which they broke off after Spain's Medrid conference. Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/2/1998 - Syria - Lebanon Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/2/1998
- Former Israeli intelligence chief: Israel has to leave Golan
Former chief of the Israeli intelligence agency Yuri Saghi said Israel should give up the occupied Syrian Golan Heights if it is determined to reach peace with Syria. Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/2/1998