Damascus, (SANA) – President Bashar al-Assad discussed on Sunday with EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana the development of relations between Syria and the European Union and the importance of enhancing the standing cooperation between the two sides in all fields.

Talks during the meeting also dealt with the situation in the Middle East and the efforts being exerted for reviving the peace process in the region, with President al-Assad reiterating Syria's firm stance with regard to achieving just and comprehensive peace based on the international legitimacy resolutions.

The two sides also discussed the situation in Iraq and the need to achieve national reconciliation due to its positive effects on establishing stability and security for the Iraqi people. President al-Assad stressed in this regard that Syria has direct interest in Iraq's security and stability.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, Presidential Political and Media Advisor Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad, Assistant Foreign Minister Abdel-Fattah Ammoura, and the delegation accompanying Mr. Solana.

In the same context, Minister al-Moallem held a meeting with Solana in the presence of Mikdad, Ammoura and the directors of Foreign Media and Europe Departments at the Foreign Ministry.

"I had a very good meeting with President al-Assad," Solana said in a joint press conference with al-Moallem.  "We discussed the situation in the region and the bilateral relations between Syria and the EU, which are moving fast in the right direction. We hope we will be able to sign the partnership agreement before the end of 2009," Solana added.

"We are going through crucial times in the region, where Syria has an important position and plays a key role," said Solana, indicating that issues on the peace process, Iraq and Iran were on the agenda. He added that the EU was trying to put a strategy for peace and stability in the region.

Solana said "The current period is important, since we are approaching the date of the UN General Assembly meetings on September 23.  We hope to exert efforts and exchange views to ensure having good meetings."

For his part, al-Moallem said that President al-Assad reviewed with Solana the current situation in the region and the relations between Syria and the EU.

In a response to a question concerning what he said in a lecture in London on the necessity of taking measures to establish a Palestinian state in case the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations failed, Solana said "Negotiations are essential and they should be held between the parties concerned and not to let them continue forever. Therefore, we should put new suggestions on the table in case of the failure of negotiations to achieve the aspired goals."

"I believe that what I said gained the approval of many people. Some have voiced their opinions clearly, while others have not spoken their minds openly. We are exerting great efforts in order to reach somewhere and to resume bilateral negotiations," continued Solana, indicating that the dynamisms which have been proposed earlier this year are unlike those previously suggested.

Asked on the efforts Syria exerted to help release the French detainee in Iran, Solana replied "What Syria has done in this regard was much appreciated by the French people and government."

Al-Moallem commented on this issue saying "We are not and we have never been mediators in neither of these two issues. We made clear that we reject external interference in Iran's affairs. We listen to our friends in the West and we convey what we are told to the Iranian side. In the same way, we listen to our friends in Tehran and we report their point of view to the West. This, however, dose not mean that we do not consult with the Iranian leadership on the regional and international situations."

On the objective of his visit to the region, and whether the EU has defined the obstacles in the way of achieving peace, Solana answered "Lots of issues came up during this short period, all of them are important. However, the most important of which is taking steps to resume the peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis."

"I believe that the efforts which have been exerted by the U.S. and the EU will end up in results. Everybody is working in this direction," concluded Solana, stressing "there is no guarantee that we will realize what we hope for before the meetings of the General Assembly."

Answering a question about the EU and President Obama's overlapping strategies on peace, Solana said: '' the European efforts go in line with the US efforts that we seek to push in the right direction, and we are hopeful to reach positive results'', indicating that the dynamics and the momentum of the exerted efforts last month were far greater than before.

Answering a question on the future Syrian-Iraqi ties and the Iraqi officials' comments about referring the case of Baghdad's latest bombings to an international court, al-Moallem said: ''This is an Iraqi affair and decision, but I believe that we live in this region and any measure taken by the Security Council must take into account all the crimes perpetrated against the Iraqi people, especially that the statements of the Iraqi security put the toll at one million victims since 2003.''

''Our stance is clear concerning the future Syrian-Iraqi relations, and we are looking forward towards good neighborhood and brotherly ties with Iraq and the brotherly Iraqi people, but it is widely known who have harmed these relations and who are responsible for their deterioration,'' al-Moallem added.

In response to a question on the political movement to form the Lebanese government, al-Moallem made it clear that this is purely a Lebanese affair, adding: ''Syria supports the Lebanese dialogue and wants to see a Lebanese government as soon as possible.''

Answering a question about Syrian-Saudi dialogue and the press reports that Syria is preparing to submit a file about the Hariri tribunal to the UN, al-Moallem said: ''Syrian-Saudi relations are moving in the right course...Two days ago the Saudi ambassador arrived and stressed that the aim of these relations is achieving security and stability in the region''.

''We've repeatedly said that the Hariri court is a Lebanese affair between Lebanon and the United Nations, and after General Jamil al-Sayyed statements, it became very clear that the investigations conducted when Mehlis was in office were all fabricated and made up to accuse Syria,'' al-Moallem added.

On whether Syria has been informed about President Obama's peace plan and the possibility of holding an international peace conference, al-Moallem said: ''we haven't been informed of President Obama's plan or any other plan...and we want to raise questions amid the mounting talk about meetings between Palestinians and Israelis: what happened concerning the halt of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and stopping judaizing Jerusalem and demolishing houses? and what happened concerning lifting the siege imposed on the people of Gaza who are still suffering under this siege?''

''I haven't heard Obama propose holding an international peace conference,'' he added. He indicated that current efforts are dedicated to the Palestinian track, stressing that any such conference must be prepared well and must have clear references that comes as a culmination of the progress achieved on bilateral tracks so as all parties feel safe to sign these agreements.

Solana visited Damascus late last February and affirmed during his meeting with President Bashar al-Assad that the EU strongly supports the peace process and seeks to play a role in it, hailing Syria's efforts for achieving just and comprehensive peace in the region.

Solana's visit to Damascus, the third this year, comes amid growing Syrian-European relations that entered a new phase of cooperation and coordination during the past months, as made clear by frequent visits of senior European officials, including presidents or foreign ministers, in the light of the EU interest in Syria and its efforts exerted to meet requirements of security and stability in the Middle East.  

H.Sabbagh/Haifa Said/Manal Ismael/Kh.Aridi/ Mazen