Arabic News Weekly Edition for Syria, 4/24/2000
Weekly Edition, Syria - Week of April 24, 2000
- Bashar al-Assad to WSJ: Israel is mistaken if ot thinks its withdrawal from Lebanon is equivalent to peace with Syria
Col. Bashar al-Assad has stated that Israel is committing a mistake if it thinks its unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon is equivalent to peace with Syria. Syria, Politics, 4/29/2000 - Report: Tripartite meeting for Syrian, Egyptian, Saudi FMs in Damascus
A high-ranking Syrian source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that preparations are underway to convene a tripartite meeting including Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in Damascus, but the Syrian official did not set a final date for such a meeting, saying that such a meeting will be set through diplomatic channels. Syria-Regional, Politics, 4/29/2000 - De Charette calls for intensifying efforts to revive the Syrian track
Former French Foreign Minister Herve De Charette has warned that the situation in the Middle East region is inclining towards deterioration. Syria-France, Politics, 4/29/2000 - Oman's Foreign Ministry: Arab states are convinced of the Syrian position
Syrain President Hafez al-Assad met on Thursday in Damascus with Oman's minister of state for foreign affairs, Youssef Bin Alawi, accompanied by the director of the Arab department at Oman's Foreign Ministry, Ahmad Bin Youssef al-Harithi. Syria-Oman, Politics, 4/28/2000 - Al-Shara confers with Bishara
Bishara added, "According to my own conviction and that of Foreign Minister al-Shara’ the whole ball is now in the Israeli court because Syria has repeatedly announced its desire in a just and comprehensive strategic peace in Syria and Lebanon and that now it is Israel's turn to decide if it has this very desire," Syria-Israel, Politics, 4/28/2000 - Syrian FM concludes successful visit to France
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and members of the accompanying delegation returned to Damascus on Wednesday evening after he had made a short visit to France during which he conveyed a message from President Hafez al-Assad to President Jacques Chirac. The foreign minister had talks with his French counterpart, Hubert Vedrine. Syria-France, Politics, 4/27/2000 - A message from Sultan Qaboos to President al-Assad
Oman's minister of state for foreign affairs, Youssef Bin Alawi, arrived in Damascus on Wednesday evening on a visit to Syria. Syria-Oman, Politics, 4/27/2000 - The 6th al-Sham exhibition of information, communications
Since its foundation in 1989, the Syrian Computer Society has aimed to actively introduce information technology into the various economic sectors in Syria. Syria, Politics, 4/27/2000 - On al-Shara's statements in Paris Syria, Politics, 4/27/2000
- Report: New US initiative on the Syrian track
The Lebanese paper al-Kifah al-Arabi said, according to a democratic figure at the US congress who has strong link to the White House, that the "Tiberis complex" is on its way to have a solution, asserting that the main headlines of this solution will be explained to the Syrian and Israeli leaders. Syria-Israel-USA, Politics, 4/27/2000 - Russia denies initiative to revive Syrian track
Russia on Wednesday denied any Russian initiative to revitalize the Syrian track in the Middle East peace negotiations. Syria-Russia, Politics, 4/27/2000 - Egyptian theater in two conferences in France and Syria
Egypt is participating in two conferences for theater. The first will be held in Damascus while the second will be held in Marseille, France. Egypt-Syria-France, Culture, 4/27/2000 - Four political detainees released in Syria Syria, Politics, 4/26/2000
- On the issuance of new legislative decrees in Syria Syria, Economics, 4/26/2000
- Al-Shara conveyed President al-Assad's message to Chirac
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Tuesday evening gave French President Jacques Chirac a message from Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on the latest developments in the Middle East, the suspended Middle East peace process, the results of the Geneva summit between President al-Assad and US President Bill Clinton and bilateral relations between the two countries. Syria-France, Politics, 4/26/2000 - Reopening Iraq's consulate in Syria Syria-Iraq, Politics, 4/26/2000
- Syrian Cabinet approves amendment bill for investment law no.10 of 1991
Chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro, the Syrian Cabinet held a meeting on Tuesday during which it approved the bill that provides for amending law no. 10 on encouraging investment for the year 1991. Syria, Economics, 4/26/2000 - Al-Shara resumes visit to Paris
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara is resuming today his discussions in Paris in Damascus' adherence to informing all the parties concerned with the Middle East peace process about the real situation in the area. Syria-France, Politics, 4/26/2000 - Report: Contacts to resume Syrian-Israeli negotiations
The Kuwaiti daily al-Qabas on Tuesday quoted a European diplomat in Beirut as saying that the contacts currently taking place behind the curtains might lead to the resumption of negotiations between Syria and Israel before next June. Syria-Israel, Politics, 4/26/2000 - Al-Shara confers with Bishara
Israeli Radio stated on Tuesday that Israeli Knesset member Azmi Bishara met on Monday evening in Damascus with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara following al-Shara's return from Beirut after he had talks with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud. Syria-Israel, Politics, 4/26/2000 - Solidarity with Syrian prisoners in Israeli jails observed
The committee in charge of solidarity with Syrian prisoners in Israeli jails on Tuesday staged a sit in at the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Damascus, on the occasion of the Syrian Prisoner Day at the Israeli jails. This day is celebrated on April 21 every year. Syria, Politics, 4/26/2000 - Albright says the gap is still wide between Syria, Israel
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has stated that gaps between the Syrians and the Israelis are still wide. Syria-Israel-USA, Politics, 4/26/2000 - Al-Shara conveys a message from al-Assad to Lahoud
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Monday in Beirut at Baabda palace received Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara. The meeting was attended by Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss and the chairman of the Syrian security intelligence for the Syrian forces in Lebanon, Lt. Gen. Ghazi Kanaan. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 4/25/2000 - Bashar al-Assad opens Sham 2000 IT exposition Syria, Business, 4/25/2000
- Al-Assad enacts three decrees on economic crimes
Syrian President Hafez al-Assad has issued three legislative decrees for 2000. Syria, Economics, 4/25/2000 - Message from Iranian foreign minister to al-Shara Syria-Iran, Politics, 4/25/2000
- Al-Assad's visit to Cairo denied Egypt-Syria, Politics, 4/24/2000
- Syrian - Saudi free trade zone opened
Works of the Syrian - Saudi technical committee in charge of working out a draft agreement for the establishment of a free trade zone between the two states were concluded on Sunday, following two days of deliberations. Syria-Saudi Arabia, Economics, 4/24/2000 - Head of the delegation of the European Commission in Damascus
The head of the delegation of the European Commission in Damascus, Marc Pierini, gave a lecture on April 19 at Goethe Institute in Damascus under the title "Perspectives for a Euro-Syrian partnership." Syria-European Union, Economics, 4/24/2000 - A celebration for the Armenian community on their Martyrs' Day Syria, Religion, 4/24/2000
- Telephone call between al-Assad, Lahoud Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 4/24/2000