Syrian-EU partnership deal needs to serve Syria’s interest: Assad
Xinhua 2009-11-02
Syrian-EU partnership deal needs to serve Syria’s interest: Assad
DAMASCUS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) — Syrian president reiterated that the partnership agreement between Syria and the European Union (EU) should be "in accordance with the requirements of Syria’s national interest," the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported Sunday.
"Syria will go over the agreement again to identify its requirements, which will be specified in accordance with Syria’s national interest," Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told reporters who accompanied him on his recent visit to Croatia.
"It should be a counterpart association. No possible interference in Syria’s internal affairs will be accepted," the president added.
Assad paid an official visit to Croatia on Oct. 28 and 29.
Damascus and the EU first drew up the draft partnership pact in2004 but it was never signed by European countries due to concerns of some nations over human rights condition in Syria.
On Oct. 8, the EU said it was ready to sign a Syrian-European partnership agreement on Oct. 26 in Luxembourg.
However, Damascus has officially asked to postpone the signing to an unspecified date, saying it needed taking more time to consider the agreement and assess its impact on the Syrian economy.
