03/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - At the end of October, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair sent one of his close diplomatic advisers Niger Sheinwald to Damascus, where he was received by President Bashir Al-Assad last Monday, according to British press. This trip came at the time when the European Parliament was adopting a resolution, recommending a return to normal relations between the EU and Syria (see EUROPE 9296). An association agreement with Damascus remains unsigned, despite negotiations being completed. The United Kingdom is the Member State most reticent about resuming relations. London, indeed, long put the brakes on the negotiations on the association agreement. The British stance may be explained by Syria's alleged support for armed groups in Iraq and for terrorist movements in general, a grievance shared by the United States. (fb)