Fact Finding Mission in Middle East

HUGH ROBERTSON RETURNS FROM 3 DAY DISCUSSIONS IN SYRIA OVER WMD AND TERRORISM

Hugh Robertson has just returned from a 3 day trip, over the bank holiday, to Damascus for meetings with the Syrian government. The All Party trip was sponsored by the British Syrian Soviety – although Hugh Robertson is also Secretary of the Middle East Council.

Syria was named by President Bush in his Axis of Evil speech and is currently subject to US sanctions. It has been accused of harbouring terrorists from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah and of encouraging jihaadis to cross the border to fight against coalition troops in Iraq. It admits to having a chemical weapons programme.

The visit included private meetings with President Assad, the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Economics Minister and the Speaker of the Syrian Parliament. The main subjects under discussion included Iraq, WMD and the Middle East Peace Process.

Hugh said: “This trip emphasised the value of dialogue. Syria is a key Arab State and it is vital that we do not make an unnecessary enemy.

“Syria has enormous potential. It has a young, English educated President and a pluralist and tolerant society. However, its links with Palestinian rejectionist groups and with the Ba’ath Party in Iraq have contributed to its pariah status.

“Our talks produced progress over the question of jihadis transiting through Syria to Iraq – a subject we had addressed in our first visit last year. There are now 250 watch towers along the 700km Syria/ Iraq border and a British Military team is inspecting the border with the Syrian Army to ensure that it is properly secure.

“On WMD, we strongly encouraged the Syrians to sign an agreement with the EU that would open up significant economic and trade opportunities. However, they would have to sign a protocol over chemical weapons – which are of limited military and political use in any event.

“Sadly, we made less progress over the Middle East Peace Process. This is the key to the whole region and should be the major focus of international activity.”