Damascus - Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem discussed on Monday with a delegation of the German-Arab Friendship Society (DAFG) headed by its President Dr. Otto Wiesheu the bilateral relations between Syria and German and means for bolstering them, particularly in economic and cultural fields.
The two sides also discussed developments in the peace process and the situation in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon.
Al-Moallem said the delegation's visit is an opportunity to brief the delegation on Syria's efforts for achieving security and stability in the region, affirming Damascus commitment to exert all efforts to help achieve that goal. He stressed the need to establish a just and comprehensive peace according to relevant UN resolutions, underlining the importance of Europe's role in pushing the peace process forward.
For his part, Dr. Wiesheu pointed out to the significance of selecting Syria as the first leg for the Society's first foreign tour, thus enabling it to get acquainted with the region's history, culture and facts. He affirmed the DAFG's interest in bolstering bilateral relations in all fields and building bridges of cooperation in the economic area.
The meeting was attended by Assistant Foreign Minister Abdul Fattah Ammoura and Chairman of the Arab and Foreign Affairs Committee at the People's Assembly Suleiman Haddad.
In a statement to SANA following the meeting, Dr. Wiesheu affirmed Syria's important role in achieving peace in the Middle East, pointing out that the delegation's talks with Syrian officials dealt with regional issues and means for developing bilateral relations between Syria and Germany, in addition to the economic developments in Syria.
Regarding the DAFG's role, Wiesheu said "the Society can make several initiatives to revitalize Arab-German relations and relay facts and visions about the region to Germany through the media," pointing out that German media doesn't shed light effectively on the Middle East. He added that "our job is to convey the truth and correct information to the German people," stressing the need for constant communication on various levels between the two sides.
Dr. Wiesheu stressed that Germany acquired a lot from Arab cultures and customs, and that there are more elements that bring the two cultures together than there are elements that divide them. He also affirmed the importance of economic and investment cooperation and exchanging opinions to establish stable political relations and basis for developing relations.
By H. Sabbagh / Ahmad Fathi ZAHRA
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2008
