Syria-EU ties set for revival before Christmas holidays
Gulf News, UAE
Syria-EU ties set for revival before Christmas holidays
By Sami Moubayed, Correspondent
2 December 2008
Damascus: Syrian and European officials are expecting to initial a second phase of the Syrian-EU Partnership Agreement, which has been on-hold due to political tension since 2004, before the Christmas holidays.
Sources in Damascus told Gulf News that EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner will be visiting Damascus this December, to approve updates to the initial draft Association Agreement (AA). Intensive talks are underway between the EU and Syria to finalise economic details, while the political issues related to the partnership agreement, "have been agreed upon", officials said.
The two sides had signed an initial agreement in October 2004, but that was frozen because of political tension between Syria and France after the assassination of Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005.
Abdullah Dardari, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, stressed that the talks were "delicate." "Following thorough and constructive discussions, on November 25, the Syrian delegation and the Commission services agreed on all issues regarding the update of the Agreement, taking into consideration developments since its initialing in October 2004."
Sources said the new round concentrated on the agricultural quota of Syria, making it almost certain that Syria will be exporting an additional six per cent of citrus products to Europe.
Gassan Habash, the Deputy Minister of Economy, told Gulf News that the partnership agreement "creates a suitable framework for political dialogue between both parties."
