EU-Syria relations in doubt, warns Prodi

Date: 13/02/03

ROMANO Prodi has voiced doubts about whether the EU will be able to develop the same relations with Syria as it has with its other 'partners' in the Mediterranean region.

Damascus is alone among the 12 non-EU participants in the 'Barcelona Process', underpinning EU-Mediterranean relations, not to have signed an 'association agreement' on bolstering political and economic ties with the Union.

Although negotiations are under way, the Commission president admits he is unsure whether they will bear fruit.

"I suspect the Syrians may not yet have realised the magnitude of the changes which they will have to introduce," said Prodi. His comments are contained in a letter, seen by European Voice, to the Greek and Italian premiers, Costas Simitis and Silvio Berlusconi. The Commission has already stressed that it is not satisfied with the pace of reforms introduced by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, who took over the country's reins after his father Hamez died in 2000.

While Bashar Al-Assad allowed some opposition activists to hold meetings in the early stages of his rule, he initiated a crackdown the following year, imprisoning figures critical of his government.

There was no one available to comment at Syria's Brussels mission, as it was closed this week for Eid, the Muslim festival of sacrifice which ends haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca.

The question of improving EU-Mediterranean ties is due to be a key one for EU foreign ministers at their May meeting in Athens and December session in Naples.

Romano Prodi has voiced doubts about whether the EU will be able to develop the same relations with Syria as it has with its other 'partners' in the Mediterranean region.