Arabic News Weekly Edition for Syria, 12/8/2003
Weekly Edition, Syria - Week of December 8, 2003
- Syrian Expatriates minister continues tour in the US
Expatriates Minister Buthaina Shaaban met in Houston on Thursday the Arab and Syrian Community. Syria-USA, Politics, 12/12/2003 - Al-assad receives Iraqi tribes chief Syria-Iraq, Politics, 12/12/2003
- Dieter Pfaff: ICC and human rights law will further limit culture of impunity for perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide
He added that as an institution, ICC represents a permanent implementing tool of jurisdiction, an instrument to sanction war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. In other words, it will further limit what has been called the "culture of impunity" for perpetrators of such crimes. Syria-Regional, Politics, 12/11/2003 - Damascus: a sit in on the occasion of human rights Day
Damascus witnessed yesterday a symbolic sit-in, which was the first of its kind, carried out by a group of unlicensed political forces on the occasion of the International Day for Human rights. Syria, Politics, 12/11/2003 - Al-Assad, Lukashenko warp up talks, visit concluded
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko held a meeting yesterday at Tishreen Palace to complete their talks which began yesterday, and dealt with the bilateral relations and the regional situations in the Middle East and Europe. Syria-Belarus, Politics, 12/11/2003 - European Union commends EU-Syria finalizing Association Agreement
The European Union on Wednesday welcomed the Syrian-European success in achieving the partnership negotiations between them, hoping to reach a Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement before the end of the year. Syria-European Union, Politics, 12/11/2003 - Damascus regrets Abdullah statement; al-Fayez telephone call with Otri improved the atmospheres
A Syrian media source considered that the telephone call made by the Jordanian prime minister Faisal al-Fayez on Tuesday with his Syrian peer Naji Otari had improved the atmosphere of Jordanian- Syrian relations, that came under tension following accusations started by the Jordanian press and the Syrian paper's replies to it. Syria-Jordan, Politics, 12/11/2003 - Congress ratified new ambassador to Syria
The US Congress on Tuesday evening ratified a decision for appointing Margaret Scooby as an ambassador for the US to Syria. Syria-USA, Politics, 12/11/2003 - Annan recommends extension for UNDOF
The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, yesterday recommended the UN Security Council to renew the mission of the UN Deterrent and Disengagement Force in the Golan, UNDOF, for 6 months. Syria-Israel, Politics, 12/11/2003 - Syria - Saudi Arabia cultural program cooperation Syria-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 12/11/2003
- Syria -Yemen signed cooperation agreement Syria-Yemen, Politics, 12/11/2003
- Syria, EU transport co-operation highlighted
Syria's Transport Minister, Makram Obied on Wednesday discussed with Ralf Cultier, Director General of the Mediterranean-European Transport Project, the existing cooperation between the European Commission and Syria, particularly in the filed of developing and improving the transport sector in the country. Syria-European Union, Economics, 12/11/2003 - Al-Assad meets Lukashenko; press interview with the Syrian al-Baath daily
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has stressed the necessity for the establishment of just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East on the basis of UN. Security Council resolutions. Syria-Belarus, Politics, 12/10/2003 - Al-Assad meets with British Baroness on developments
The Minister at the British Foreign Office for the Middle East Affairs and Prime Minister's Envoy, Baroness Elizabeth Simons underlined that her talks with President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara dealt with issues of mutual concern, bilateral cooperation, describing the talks as good and constructive. Syria-UK, Politics, 12/10/2003 - Al-Fayez and Otri discuss Syrian- Jordanian cooperation on a telephone call Syria-Jordan, Politics, 12/10/2003
- Al-Shara and Moussa hold phone talks Regional-Syria, Politics, 12/10/2003
- On al- Assad's coming visit to Greece Syria-Greece, Politics, 12/10/2003
- Syrian parliamentary delegation in Iran
Iranian Speaker of Shura Council ( Parliament ) Mahdi Karrubi expressed appreciation the national and pan-Arab stances Syria adopts under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad in defending the Arab and Islamic causes. Syria-Iran, Politics, 12/9/2003 - New round of Syria- EU negotiations
The EU and Syria started a new round of negotiations in Damascus Monday with debates on the prologue of the partnership project and several other articles as well as exchange of agrarian products and food stuffs. Syria-European Union, Economics, 12/9/2003 - Belarus President arrives today in Damascus Syria-Belarus, Politics, 12/9/2003
- Syrian Airlines - Lufthansa signed memo of understanding Syria-Germany, Business, 12/9/2003
- Al-Assad meets with Yemen's FM Syria-Yemen, Politics, 12/8/2003
- Syrian-Omani trade meetings opened in Muscat Syria-Oman, Economics, 12/8/2003
- Mrs. Al-Assad receives wonderful welcome from al-Badia Children
In one of the Bedouin's tents within the area, Syria's First Lady listened to music played on Rababah and to Arabic poetry recited by Rababah (musical instrument) player, and viewed a display of Arabic coffee and sweets. She then moved on to a second tent where an exhibition of tools that are still used in the Badia to accomplish everyday tasks including spinning and baking bread are on display. She was briefed on the sulfur water bath and also on the many beneficial use of sulfur water. Syria, Environment, 12/8/2003 - Al-Assad to visit Greece on December 15
Official sources at the Greek embassy in Damascus said that President Bashar al-Assad and his wife will pay a visit to Greece on December 15th. Syria-Greece, Economics, 12/8/2003 - Syrian Greek educational agreement Syria-Greece, Education, 12/8/2003
- King Abdullah criticizes Syria in Washington and demands it to control its borders with Iraq
The Jordanian King Abdullah, who is visiting the USA, got himself involved in the campaign of the American accusations against Syria where he demanded Syria to control its borders with Iraq "so as to be secure as we want." Jordan-Syria, Politics, 12/8/2003 - Syrian- Greek memo of understanding on oil explorations signed
Oil and Mineral Resources Minister Ibrahim Haddad and Greek Minister of development Apostolos-Athanasios Tsokhatzopoulos cosigned on Sunday an understanding memo on a cooperation in the fields of oil, Gas and mineral resources. Syria-Greece, Economics, 12/8/2003 - Damascus Film Festival opens
The 13th Damascus International Film Festival was opened on Saturday by screening the Venice Golden Palm award winning film "The Return." The festival which was held under the title " Damascus embraces the world" will show about 450 films from all over the world, from Japan to the United States and Europe. Syria, Local, 12/8/2003