Brussels, 05/08/2009 (Agence Europe) - According to a senior British official quoted by Reuters on Tuesday 4 August, the United Kingdom would like an Association Agreement between the European Union and Syria to be signed, despite concerns about human rights. Ivan Lewis, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs said that he wanted to get off to a “new start” with Damascus and explained that Syria should be encouraged to change policy. Lewis affirmed that the United Kingdom would try and play a positive role in this connection, despite some European countries still harbouring concerns about elements of Syrian policy. At the end of the meeting with the Syrian Foreign Affairs Minister, Oualid al Moualem, Mr Lewis declared that they were still hoping that any concerns could be overcome and that an agreement would be signed.
The Association Agreement with Brussels has already been signed by several Arab countries and may help towards a recovery in the Syrian economy, which has been severely affected by drought and the international financial crisis. The negotiations began eight years ago were concluded in 2004 but were suspended a year later, following the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. Talks were again kick-started last year through a French initiative that successfully promoted a rapprochement between Syria and the European Commission. In November, the Commission announced its intention of presenting the agreement for approval by the EU27 as rapidly as possible. According to diplomats based in Damascus, the Netherlands is still opposed to an agreement, whilst Paris and London would like to include a clause in it that raises the question of human rights. (O.J./trans/rh)