SYRIA: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem criticises U.S. arms sales in the Middle East and reiterates Syrian position on any Middle East peace initiatives

Record ID: 279784

  • Title: SYRIA: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem criticises U.S. arms sales in the Middle East and reiterates Syrian position on any Middle East peace initiatives
  • Date: 1st August 2007
  • Summary: (MER-2) DAMASCUS, SYRIA (JULY 31, 2007) (REUTERS) MIGEL ANGEL MORATINOS, SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER AND SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WALID AL-MOALLEM WALKING TOWARDS PODIUM THE SPANISH DELEGATION MIGEL ANGEL MORATINOS AND WALID AL-MOALLEM STANDING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, WALID AL-MOALLEM, SAYING: "I know that whoever wants to be a peacemaker should
  • Embargoed: 16th August 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA5WPTB5M6PPGKOWGZODV69WL42
  • Story Text: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem and his Spanish counterpart Migel Angel Moratinos met in the Syrian capital Damascus on Tuesday (July 31) to discuss developments in the region.
    U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates joined forces in the Middle East on Tuesday to push Arab allies to do more to stabilise Iraq and counter the rise of Iran.
    The top Bush administration officials, on a rare joint visit, met Arab ministers in Egypt with promises of tens of billions of dollars in U.S.
    weapons and military aid they said would help counter al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran.
    At a news conference held in Damascus, al-Moallem made clear his reaction to the American offer.
    "I know that whoever wants to be a peacemaker should not start a dangerous arms race in the region," said al-Moallem "Secondly, whoever wants to be a guardian for the peace process, they should not be biased to a party while isolating another one in the peace process," he added.
    Al-Moallem's also reiterated Syria's position on any Middle East peace initiatives, saying that the principles underpinning such a process must be clearly stated at the outset.
    "Such initiatives must clarify its goals, basis and participants goals and its guarantees of success," he said.
    His remarks were an oblique criticism of a call by the U.S. for a Middle East peace conference in September.
    Before leaving for the Middle East, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced military aid to Egypt of $13 billion (USD) over 10 years, the same level as for at least the last six years. But Washington is offering Israel an increase of about 25 percent -- to $30 billion over 10 years.
    Defence officials said Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states would get at least $20 billion in arms sales and other help over the next decade but final figures have not been agreed yet.
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