Brussels, 14/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - On a visit to Syria all through the week, a delegation of the European Parliament chaired by Béatrice Patrie (PES, France) was received on Wednesday 12 September by the head of state, Bashar al-Assad. One of the main themes of the meeting was the state of Euro-Syrian relations, which are especially marked by a delay in the conclusion of the association agreement. Initialled in October 2004, the agreement between the EU and Syria has still not been signed. Since the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafiq Hariri, that Syria is accused of having ordered, France has been opposed to signature.
“The association agreement is still being worked on”, said Ms Patrie on Wednesday 12 September. During a press conference in Damascus, she pointed out that the European Parliament had spoken out in favour of signing the agreement several months ago, and felt that the ball was now in the court of the EU Council, which must place the agreement on its agenda. Béatrice Patrie felt that there was no further condition to be added to the association agreement. However, for it to be signed, she said, political conditions must be favourable and “we are aware of the fact that we must move forward as Syria has a constructive role to play in the region”. During its various meetings with the Syrian president and also with the members of the government and parliament, the parliamentary delegation stressed the need to continue political reform in order to make Syria a modern democracy and establish a multi-party system.