Brussels, 19/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - Syria has announced that it will not turn up on 26 October to sign the association agreement (EUROPE 9996) and calls for more time to conduct a market opening impact assessment. No new date has yet been set. Damascus appears to want to take its time before sealing the agreement once and for all, arguing on the basis of recent decisions concerning external trade reform and also taking example from the experience of Maghrebin association agreements, especially that with Algeria. Syria has openly questioned its relations with Europe and almost hoped for renegotiation. Syrians say they have waited five years to sign the agreement and Brussels is now - “unilaterally” - fixing a 15 day period for definitive signing of the agreement that will certainly have consequences on the balance of Syria's economy, industry and agriculture. The agreement was initialled for the first time in 2004 and for a second time exactly one year ago.
The European Commission has been counting on a thaw in relations with Damascus since the Union for the Mediterranean “summit” in Paris, in order to put an end to the chain of events that has each time resulted in deferral of the signing ceremony. Obstacles continued, however, for reasons that appear more political than technical. (F.B./transl.jl)