Arabic News Weekly Edition for Syria, 2/28/2000
Weekly Edition, Syria - Week of February 28, 2000
- Syria emphasizes importance of complete withdrawal from Golan
Syrian emphasized its adherence to the necessity of Israel's withdrawal to its June 4, 1967 borders so that peace can take place with Israel. Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/4/2000 - Swiss FM: We have not conveyed invitation to host al-Assad, Barak
Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss on Friday evening told the Lebanese daily al-Nahar in a statement issued today denying what was quoted by the AFP of members of the official delegation accompanying him on his visit to Beirut that Switzerland is ready to host a summit meeting between Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak under the supervision of US President Bill Clinton. Syria-Switzerland, Politics, 3/4/2000 - Masalha says Israeli-Syrian negotiations to be resumed in the second half of this month
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Nawaf Masalha has expressed his conviction that the Syrian- Israeli negotiations will be resumed in the second half of this month. Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/4/2000 - Israel expects a nearby agreement with Syria, including Lebanon
The Israeli TV on Friday evening said that a peace agreement will be concluded between Israel and Syria including an agreement concerning Lebanon will be " completed and submitted to the government" within four or five months, but not to exceed the fall of the Jewish Easter. Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/4/2000 - Israelis escalate their aggression to withdrawal from the Golan
The Jewish Chronicle reported on Friday that those who oppose the Israeli withdrawal from the Syrian Golan have escalated their campaign to prevent any peace deal between Syria and Israel. Syria-Israel-USA, Politics, 3/4/2000 - Report: Barak to give up asking for early warning station in the Golan
The Kuwaiti daily al-Rai al-Am quoted high-ranking Israeli officials as saying that Israeli Prime Minsiter Ehud Barak is studying the possibility of giving up his stipulation of an Israeli presence in an early warning station in the Golan, following the signing of a peace agreement with Syria. Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/4/2000 - Air flights resumed between Damascus and Benghazi Syria-Libya, Business, 3/3/2000
- Al-Assad meets with Swiss foreign minister
The talks between Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and Swiss foreign minister Joseph Diess dealt with the situation in the region, the suspended Middle East peace talks on the Syrian- Israeli talks as well as Syrian-Swiss relations and means of developing them. Syria-Switzerland, Politics, 3/3/2000 - Saudi crown prince winds up visit to Damascus
Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Andul Aziz on Thursday ended a two day official visit to Syria and was seen off at Damascus airport by Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. Syria-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 3/3/2000 - Italian parliamentary delegation arrives in Damascus today Syria-Italy, Politics, 3/3/2000
- Turkish delegation to Syria on Monday
In a step which marks the beginning of a regular dialogue between Damascus and Ankara, a Turkish delegation led by the Foreign Ministry secretary, Ogore Zeyal, is expected to arrive in Damascus on Monday to discuss means of developing bilateral relations and to "define principles on the ground of which these relations will be built." Syria-Turkey, Politics, 3/3/2000 - Al-Shara stresses Syria's commitment to April Understanding, refuses amendments
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Thursday received the chairman of the US side and the current president of the April Understanding Monitoring Committee, Richard Eardman, and the chairman of the French side in the committee, Laurant Raban, and members of their two accompanying delegations. Syria-Israel-International, Politics, 3/3/2000 - Syrian defense minister confers with US military delegation
Syria's deputy commander in chief of the army and armed forces, deputy premier and defense minister, Lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass, on Thursday in Damascus received the US Air War Academy delegation led by Col. Alfred Jones. Syria-USA, Politics, 3/3/2000 - Jordanian - Syrian free zone to start its work at the end of March
The Jordanian - Syrian free trade zone will start its work at the end of March in a step to enhance commercial relations between the two countries and to attract investments. Jordan-Syria, Economics, 3/3/2000 - Indyk optimistic on peace Syria-Israel-USA, Politics, 3/3/2000
- Al-Assad - Crown Prince Abdullah talks
Syrian President Hafez al-Assad held important talks in Damascus yesterday with Saudi ARabia's Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz that tackled the latest developments in the Middle East peace process, the situation in the area, Arab relations, the situation in Lebanon in the shadow of the Israeli shelling, and the dimensions of the withdrawal intended by Israel at the end of June from south Lebanon. Syria-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 3/2/2000 - On the Cabinet reshuffle in Syria
The Lebanese al-Mustaqbal paper said on Tuesday that the fate of the government of Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Zou'bi is still swinging between increasing rumors of its resignation and increasing rumors that this government will stay. Syria, Politics, 3/1/2000 - Swiss FM holds talks in Damascus
Syrian Minister of the Economy and Foreign Trade Muhammad al-Imadi on Tuesday evening discussed with the Swiss federal chancellor and minister of foreign affairs, Joseph Deiss, means of enhancing trade and economic relations between the two countries in various areas, as well as exchanging expertise. Syria-Switzerland, Politics, 3/1/2000 - Turkish Foreign Ministry delegation in Damascus on March 6
A delegation representing the Turkish Foreign Ministry led by the former Turkish ambassador in Damascus, Ogore Reyal, will arrive in Damascus on March 6 in a serious attempt to hold talks on the waters of the Tigris and the Euphrates and to conclude official agreements that can replace the temporary agreement of 1987, linking this to signing a new security agreement that can also replace the Adanah agreement of 1998. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 3/1/2000 - Israel threatens to strike Syrian interests in Lebanon
Israel has threatened to endanger the Syrian interests in Lebanon if the Hizbullah Party continues its attacks against the Israeli forces in south Lebanon. Syria-Israel-USA, Politics, 3/1/2000 - Syria: Students peacefully protest Jospin's statements
Some 100 Syrian students at the French Cultural Center on Tuesday made a peaceful demonstration before the headquarters of the French embassy in Damascus. Syria-France, Politics, 3/1/2000 - Hamas delegation visits Damascus
The Jordanian weekly al-Majd has stated that a leading delegation from the Hamas movement led by the chairman of the its political bureau, Khaled Mashaal, has concluded a visit to Damascus during which it met with Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam, Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and Minister of Information Muhammad Salman. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 3/1/2000 - Saudi crown prince in Damascus on Wednesday Saudi Arabia-Syria, Politics, 2/29/2000
- Al-Shara concludes fruitful visit to Saudi Arabia
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Monday morning in Riyadh discussed with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud al-Faisal, the latest developments in the region and the Arab joint support for Lebanon during the deliberations of the Arab League council scheduled to be held in Beirut next month. Syria-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/29/2000 - Iraqi ambassador commends relations with Syria Iraq-Syria, Politics, 2/29/2000
- Moratinos: Syrian- Israeli negotiations will start soon
The European Union's Middle East peace process special envoy, Miguel Angel Moratinos, announced that serious contacts are being made with Syria. He expressed his conviction that negotiations between Syria and Israel will be resumed shortly. Syria-Israel-European Union, Politics, 2/29/2000 - US tries to convince Syria to resume negotiations with Israel
Arab diplomatic sources in Riyadh which have followed up talks the Syrian foreign minister held in Riyadh said that the US is trying to convince Damascus to resume negotiations with Israel. Syria-Israel-USA, Politics, 2/29/2000 - Swiss foreign minister arrives in Damascus today
Switzerland's foreign minister and the federal chancellor, Joseph Deiss, arrives today in Damascus on an official visit to Syria. Syria-Switzerland, Politics, 2/29/2000 - Masalha expects peace talks to be resumed between Syria, Israel next month Syria-Israel, Politics, 2/29/2000
- Chirac stresses unwavering French policy towards Middle East
The French presidency has announced that French President Jacques Chirac has stressed the firm and balanced French foreign policy which guides the attitude of the French government towards the Middle East, an attitude which will not be changed. Regional-Syria-France, Politics, 2/29/2000 - On the Syrian track
The Israeli daily Jerusalem Post said on Monday that the Israeli deputy defense minister, Ephriam Sneh, has expressed his pessimism over the possibility of resuming peace talks with Syria shortly, adding that even if peace is reached, the region will stay unstable. Syria-Israel, Politics, 2/29/2000 - Netanyahu and negotiations with Syria
Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied having agreed on the withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights to the June 4, 1967 border lines. Syria-Israel, Politics, 2/29/2000 - Sharon and the occupied Golan
The chairman of the Israeli Likud Party, Ariel Sharon, said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is different from his predecessors in previous Israeli governments in that he is ready to give up the Golan, while his predecessors expressed their readiness to discuss a settlement concerning the Golan. Syria-Israel, Politics, 2/29/2000 - Al-Shara conveys al-Assad's two messages to Saudi King, crown prince
King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia on Sunday received Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara at al-Yamama presidential palace. Saudi Arabia-Syria, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Syrian- Saudi minutes of meetings signed
Meetings of the Syrian-Saudi joint committee were concluded in al-Riyadh on Sunday evening and minutes of meetings of the 8th session of the joint committee were signed at the premises of the Saudi foreign ministry in al-Riyadh. Saudi Arabia-Syria, Politics, 2/28/2000 - A department for supervising the Iraqi interests opened at the Algerian embassy in Damascus
Iraqi diplomats reported that a branch for supervising Iraqi interests will be opened this week in Damascus for the first time since diplomatic relations were severed between the two countries in 1980. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Syrian Foreign Ministry summons French ambassador in Damascus over Jospin's remarks
The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Saturday summoned the French ambassador in Damascus. Syria-France, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Report: Emir of Qatar to visit Syria
The Qatari daily al-Rayah said on Sunday that Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani will visit Syria on March 21 and 21. Qatar-Syria, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Turkey and the waters of the Euphrates
The Turkish Daily News said on Saturday that Turkey has decided to permit the water of the Euphrates to flow into Syria during the nine-day Eid al-Adha vacation in Turkey so Syria will be able to meet its water requirements. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Qaddoumi: Jospin ignores details of peace process in the area
Farouk Qaddoumi, head of the political department of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, stated that what happened to French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin in the Palestinian territories was his fault after Jospin depicted Hizbullah in Lebanon as terrorists. Palestine-Syria-France, Politics, 2/28/2000