Brussels, 31/08/2009 (Agence Europe) - On 30 August in Damascus, the high representative of the European Union for the common foreign and security policy kicked off a five-day tour to Syria, Israel, the West Bank, Lebanon and Egypt. He was received on Sunday by the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. "We discussed all of the issues: the peace process, Iraq and Iran", said Javier Solana. According to the Syrian press agency SANA, during a press conference he stressed the role which Syria could play in all of these matters and is believed to have stated the EU's intention of developing a peace and security strategy for the region. Because, the agency continued, although he believes that negotiations are essential, "they should not go on forever", meaning that there should be ideas for new strategies in the event of the collapse of the peace process, whilst putting trust in the important forthcoming meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. In Brussels, Mr Solana's services are referring to his speech before the Ditchley Foundation on 11 July, in which he sketched out possible scenarios in the event of the collapse of the peace process.
The local press listed his answers to questions put by journalists at the press conference, regarding the dossier of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafiq Hariri. "We have always said that this was a matter between Lebanon and the United Nations", said Syrian Foreign Affairs Minister Walid al-Moualem. He went on to deny that Syria intended to play an intermediary role with Iran, particularly in the case of the young French woman held against her will in the country, but this "does not mean that we will not exchange our views with the Iranian leadership on the regional and international economic situation". Mr Solana indicated that direct relations between the EU and Syria had been discussed. They "are making progress at a good pace and in the right direction", he added, quoted by the Syrian agency. He voiced his hopes that the association agreement would be signed before the end of the year. (F.B./transl.fl)