Syria hails EU official's visit as sign of foreign policy success

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.