| 14 Nov 2009 |
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President al-Assad to Le Figaro... Syrian-French relations good, built on common confidence
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Paris - President Bashar al-Assad gave an interview to the French Le Figaro newspaper on the Syrian-European relations in general, and the Syrian-French relations in particular, in addition to the peace process in the region.
Syrian-French relations are good
On Syria's expectations from the Syrian-French relations after becoming excellent, President al-Assad said "we always talk about a European role regarding Middle East issues... it is well- known that France throughout history has been leading the political role in Europe... and it was obvious that when President Nicolas Sarkozy restored the political dynamism, Europe moved with him politically."
President al-Assad added "now, we can see a clearer vision for future... what about the US role... till now we have not seen anything happening, particularly in regards to peace... what will the French role be in this issue... France has to move... thus, peace is the main issue."
"As for economy, relations between Syria and France began moving lately... I mean in the economic field... I will meet a number of businessmen during my visit and we will see how we give another momentum to these relations," the President said.
Regarding Syria's expectations from the US president after little has happened since he was elected, President al-Assad said "naturally, we expect more whenever the importance of the state has increased.. The US is the biggest power in the world and plays a role all over the world, so it is natural to say that it is capable of doing more than others can."
"The first thing we were expecting from the US Administration is the peace process... at the beginning we saw a movement in this frame... we have received Mitchell and a dialogue on peace began, but it didn't develop to more than exchanging opinions. There is no common vision...There is no executive plan," President al-Assad added.
The President went on to say that the other side we have expected is improving relations with Syria... the relation have improved, but to a limited extent, and didn't reach to the restoration of confidence between Syria and the US... there are still US sanctions on Syria... and when there are no good relations, it is difficult to move with them in the peace process as they are a main sponsor of it."
Peace is in need for sides that have desire for peace, a sponsor and a mediator
On the basic requirements for Syria for the re-launch of the peace negotiations with the Israelis, the President said "peace needs sides that have the desire for peace, needs a sponsor and a mediator... regarding sides, we have a desire for peace and there is an Arab peace initiative... but unfortunately the new government in Israel has no desire to re-launch negotiations though Syria has repeatedly expressed its desire to return back to negotiations, and the Turkish side also announced a desire to be a broker."
"Of course, there is another point of weakness which is the US sponsor... what President Obama has expressed was good and we agree with him in principles, but as I said what is the plan... the work plan. A sponsor has to outline a work plan, has to show initiative rather than waiting the other sides concerned to act. So these factors were not taken to revive the peace process," the President added.
President al-Assad went on to say that we suppose that there is a reference, which is Madrid reference, which talks about the implementation of the UN security Council resolutions and the land-for-peace formula...The Israeli government has to announce its stances on those principles...Adopting this reference launches the peace process as they are a main sponsor of it.
On Israel's seizure of a ship loaded with weapons allegedly headed for Hizbollah, and if this constitutes an obstacle to peace, President al-Assad said "First, this is one of the Israeli repeated lies... what is the evidence for this talk?... Of course the states have a right to purchase weapons, but the basic question is "does Israel have a right to commit piracy in the high seas and intercept a ship? Is it authorized by the UN to do this?"
"The problem is that this act is totally wrong and violates the international law, not what is loaded on the ship... but if the weapons are prohibited for the others in the region, does Israel have a right to take weapons freely from the US and Europe? We think there is a double standard policy in this attitude. We don't have information that there were weapons headed for Hizbollah," the President added.
As for the national unity government in Lebanon, and whether there is an indicator to normalize sustainable relations between Syria and Lebanon, President al-Assad said "before the formation of the government, we had repeatedly announced our support to form a national unity government... so the formation of this government makes us satisfied over the Lebanese situation... this achieves stability in Lebanon. When there are no divisions in Lebanon, it becomes easier for Syria to build natural relations with it."
On the western proposal regarding the Iranian nuclear file, President al-Assad said " there is no evidence that Iran develops a nuclear military project... we in Syria are not convinced that there is a military project in Iran. Even from a scientific point, the level of enrichment to which Iran has reached is very far from the military level.
President al-Assad added "Regarding the nuclear issues, we depend on the Treaty of the Non-Proliferation of the Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which gives the right to any country to have enrichment."On the issue of the French citizen Clotilde Reiss and her return to France from Iran, the President made clear "President Sarkozy discussed this issue with me in Summer... and when I was in Iran, they told me She had come out of the court or prison to the Embassy... and this is an Iranian flexible stance, which means that Iran has no desire to make this issue a political problem.
Whether Syria will sign the suggestion on the Syrian-EU Association Agreement soon, President al-Assad said " everything was seemingly ready from the viewpoint of the Europeans, but from our viewpoint it was not ready... as for the economic and administrative domains, we are in need for some development so as to minimize the negative aspects... at the same time, the European support which existed in the suggestion is not enough to support us in the development process."
Syrian Government studies the Association Agreement
Whether Syria will sign the Syrian-EU Association Agreement proposal soon, President al-Assad said " everything was seemingly ready from the viewpoint of the Europeans, but from our viewpoint it was not ready... as for the economic and administrative domains, we are in need for some development so as to minimize the negative aspects... at the same time, the European support which existed in the suggestion is not enough to support us in the development process."
"As for the European side, I believe it needs more independence on the political level, and the evidence for this was when we signed the Agreement by initials, they moved away and stood with the US, not the contrary, against Syria... the partner has to be a friend and we have never seen this during the latest years," the President said.
President al-Assad concluded by saying that there are also technical sides in the Agreement that we object... the Syria government is now studying this Agreement and will discuss the issue with the European Commission.
By Mazen Eyon
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2009
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