Arabic News Weekly Edition for Syria, 3/6/2000
Weekly Edition, Syria - Week of March 6, 2000
- Arab FMs meet today in Beirut
Lebanese Premier and Foreign Minister Salim al-Hoss met on Friday in Beirut with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/11/2000 - Some 60% of Israelis back complete withdrawal from the Golan Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/11/2000
- Italian Professor highlights ancient Syrian cultural heritage
"We want to cooperate with Syria, as a Mediterranean state to establish a peaceful future in which we highlight our cultural heritage," said former Italian director general of cultural properties Francesco Sisinni in a statement to ArabicNews.com. Syria-Italy, Culture, 3/11/2000 - Al-Shara confers with Moratinos, Iranian envoy
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Thursday received the European Union's Middle East peace process coordinator, Miguel Angel Moratinos, and members of the accompanying delegation. Syria-European Union, Politics, 3/10/2000 - Water, borders file obstructs concluding a Syrian- Turkish statement
Diplomatic sources in Damascus said that Syrian- Turkish talks were concluded on Wednesday evening without reaching a final formula for a "declaration of principles" organizing relations between the two countries and that the two sides had agreed to convene additional talks next month in Ankara to settle problems connecting to the water and border files. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 3/10/2000 - Ruler of Qatar prepares to visit Damascus
A Syrian- Qatari summit will be held on march 20 in Damascus, the first for Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani since he assumed power in his country. Qatar-Syria, Politics, 3/10/2000 - Washington looks forward to work with new Syrian government
The US has congratulated Muhammad Mustafa Miro for being appointed as the prime minister of the Syrian government and stated that the expected government reshuffle will not affect Syria's commitment to continuing the peace process. Syria-USA, Politics, 3/10/2000 - Iraqi embassy in Damascus to open within six months
Ghazi Yasin Khodair, head of the Iraqi interests department, expected the opening of an Iraqi embassy in Damascus within six months, saying that the opening of the interest bureau will take place in the coming week (before vacations of the greater Bairam). Iraq-Syria, Politics, 3/10/2000 - Syrian party official confers with speaker of Serbia's parliaments
The assistant secretary general of the Baath Arab Socialist Party, Abdullah al-Ahmar, on Thursday received the speaker of the Serbia's parliament, Dragan Tomitch, who is also a member of the executive presidential committee of the Serbian Socialist Party. Syria-Yugoslavia, Politics, 3/10/2000 - Albanian archbishop visits Damascus
Archbishop Anistasius of Tirana and the Whole Albania for the Greek Orthodox church arrived in Damascus on Wednesday evening on a visit which will last for five days. Syria-Albania, Religion, 3/10/2000 - Center for French culture opens in Lattakia Syria-France, Politics, 3/10/2000
- Syrians of the Golan celebrate the March revolution anniversary
The Syrian village of Baqatha in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights witnessed a massive demonstration of hundreds of the citizens of the occupied Golan on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the March 8 revolution. Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/10/2000 - Rally in Damascus mark 37th anniversary of March 8 revolution
Under the patronage of President Hafez al-Assad a large central rally was held in Damascus in celebration of the 37th anniversary of the March revolution (when the Baath Party assumed power in Syria on March 8, 1963). Syria, Politics, 3/9/2000 - Western sources expect Syrian- Israeli negotiations to be resumed within two weeks Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/9/2000
- A new page of relations between Syria and Turkey
The Turkish television news channel NTF quoted on Wednesday Turkish security sources as saying that the visit held by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ogore Zeyal to Damascus, and his talks with Syrian officials had opened a new page in the bilateral relations. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 3/9/2000 - New Syrian government formation will not affect Syrian-Israeli peace talks
Syrian political sources said on Wednesday that the formation of a new Syrian government chaired by Muhammad Mustafa Miro in succession of the government of outgoing Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Zou'bi will not have any affect on the Syrian- Israeli peace talks. Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/9/2000 - Arab Fund finances al-Wahda dam
The board of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development has agreed to finance al-Wahda dam at a cost of 35 million Kuwaiti dinars (82 million Jordanian dinars). Jordan-Syria, Economics, 3/9/2000 - New premier appointed in Syria
President Hafez al-Assad on Tuesday accepted the resignation of the Syrian government of Mahmoud al-Zou'bi. Syria, Politics, 3/8/2000 - Al-Shara confers with Turkish officials Syria-Turkey, Politics, 3/8/2000
- On the new Syrian government
Well-informed sources in Damascus said that Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Tuesday told members of the Baath Party regional leadership of the decision to change the Syrian government two weeks after his presiding over an important meeting in which he criticized the government's performance. Syria, Politics, 3/8/2000 - Paper: Western intelligence report on Syria and Iraq
A western intelligence report has expressed concern over reports of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Syria and Iraq on the level of "offices for representing interests" as being the first diplomatic sign of a restoration of warmth in the relations between the two states. Syria-Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/8/2000 - Bashar al-Assad: I have nominated qualified persons for the new government, Baath congress this year
On the eve of forming a new government in Syria, Col. Bashar al-Assad said that his country "more than any time before needs a change." He remarked that the general conference of the Baath Party will be held this year, "but the date has not fixed yet," stressing, "My ambition is to serve my country and not to be a president." Syria, Politics, 3/7/2000 - Syria's PNF reviews current developments
Chaired by Vice President Muhammad Zuheir Masharqa, the Syrian Progressive National Front (PNF) central leadership held a meeting on Monday evening. Syria, Politics, 3/7/2000 - Syria and Israel's decision to withdraw from south Lebanon
The Monte Carlo Radio correspondent in Damascus on Monday quoted well-informed Syrian sources as saying that the decision of the Israeli government to withdraw from south Lebanon represents a means of pressure on Damascus towards changing its negotiation position. Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/7/2000 - Turkish - Syrian discussions Syria-Turkey, Politics, 3/6/2000
- Syrian FM confers with Lebanese Parliament speaker
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Sunday in Damascus received Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/6/2000 - Barak and negotiations with Syria
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has denied any direct contacts between Israel and Syria at a time when contacts continue with the US. Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/6/2000 - Arab League voices backing for Syria
The Arab League has asserted support for Syria's principled stances providing for Israel's full withdrawal from the occupied Golan Heights to the June 4, 1967 border lines. Regional-Syria, Politics, 3/6/2000 - Vedrine, al-Shara agree to eliminate developments resulted from Jospin's statement
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Saturday received a telephone call from his French counterpart, Hubert Vedrine, during which talks dealt with reactions resulting from the visit of the French prime minister to the region and the impact of the statements on France's relations with the Arab world, especially Syria and Lebanon. Syria-France, Politics, 3/6/2000 - Weizman, and Syrian- Israeli negotiations Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/6/2000