SYRIA: Greek Foreign Minister Theodora Bakoyanni holds talks with Syrian officials, encourages Peace in Mideast

Record ID: 278957

  • Title: SYRIA: Greek Foreign Minister Theodora Bakoyanni holds talks with Syrian officials, encourages Peace in Mideast
  • Date: 13th June 2007
  • Summary: (BN12) DAMASCUS, SYRIA (JUNE 12, 2007) (REUTERS) GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER, THEODORA BAKOYANNI ARRIVING AT SYRIAN VICE-PRESIDENT'S OFFICE VARIOUS OF GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER, THEODORA BAKOYANNI SHAKING HANDS WITH SYRIAN VICE PRESIDENT, FAROUK AL-SHARA BAKOYANNI AND AL-SHARA INSIDE VICE-PRESIDENT'S OFFICE SYRIAN FLAG BAKOYANNI ARRIVING AT SYRIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SIGN
  • Embargoed: 28th June 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAETZ3UXXMCJL72NPN9BZHBOV3Y
  • Story Text: Greek Foreign minister holds talks with Syrian officials, encourages Peace in Mideast. Greek Foreign Minister, Theodora Bakoyanni met her Syrian counterpart, Walid Al-Moualem and Syrian vice president, Farouk Al-Shara Tuesday (June 12).
    Bakoyanni arrived in Damascus on a two-day trip to discuss a peace process in the Middle East.
    "I didn't carry anything. I carried the Greek message and our message is strong and clear. We need to encourage all the parties for a new process for peace in the Middle East. We encourage and we embrace all the efforts which have been done until now and we believe in a dialogue. We believe that through the dialogue, and not through violence, but only through dialogue, we can achieve what the whole region wants and what the children of the Middle East deserve, which means a long-standing peace," declared Bakoyanni.
    She is expected to head to Lebanon to hold talks with Lebanese officials on the region's developments.
    During her trip to the Middle East, she has visited Israel and met with Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert.
    Bakoyanni had told Olmert she was seeking further peace prospects within the region. But a Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as denying Greece was acting as a mediator.
    Ahmad Arnous, Syrian Deputy foreign minister told reporter: "We have clearly announced that Syria is ready to continue the negotiations according to Madrid agreement (1991) and the resolutions of the Security Council...Without conditions."
    Olmert has made clear in past messages Israel was willing to withdraw from the Golan Heights, captured by the Jewish state in a 1967 war, but has demanded in return that Syria cut ties with Iran, Hezbollah and Palestinian militant groups.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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