Damascus - The Syrian government Thursday hailed a visit
from the European Union's chief diplomat as a sign that its foreign
policy is reaping successes.
'With the visit of (EU foreign policy chief Javier) Solana, Europe
has truly and officially announced that it wants to open up to
Syria,' said Buthaina Shaaban, spokeswoman for Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad, after the meeting between the two men.
Shaaban went on to say that the EU's position was 'only natural,
given the positive and stable role that Syria is playing in the
region.'
After the meeting with al-Assad, Solana said he had 'strong,
personal ties to President al-Assad' and hopes for an intensification
of contacts between Syria and the EU.
Solana said topics discussed included the global financial crisis
and indirect Israeli-Syrian peace talks that are being mediated by
Turkey.
Before the meeting, Solana had said the goal of the meeting was a
follow-up to previous meetings and expressed support for the
negotiations with Israel.
EU-Syrian relations were frozen after the assassination of
Lebanese premier Rafik al-Hariri in 2005 despite Syrian denials of
any involvement.
Relations were revived after the Lebanese political factions
reached a consensus to solve their internal differences and after the
establishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon last
week.
Despite the visit from the EU, both the United States and Saudi
Arabia remain warier of Syria. The United States has no formal ties
with Syria and alleges that its government has supported Palestinian
uprisings and Shiite groups in Lebanon.
Damascus was Solana's last stop on a five-day tour of the region.
The trip also took him to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
USA
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