SPECIAL REPORT FROM SYRIA

Hugh has recently returned from Syria. He writes ...

I visited Syria in the early Summer of 2003 as a guest of the British Syrian Society. The trip, which brought together MPs of all three parties, was undertaken to further bi-lateral understanding and co-operation between Britain and Syria. Always important, Syria has now become a key player in the Middle East, following the war in Iraq.

The trip involved a considerable number of meetings with the President, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, other Ministers and Members of Parliament, the Speaker as well as key academics and journalists. It was extensively covered on Syrian and Arab television.

There were three key issues that the group sought to raise. These were Syria's position with regard to the Middle East Road Map, their attitude to terrorism (particularly with respect to Hamas and Islamic Jihad training camps)and economic reform. However the group also took the opportunity to raise other issues such as Human Rights, healthcare, tourism, trade links and Syria's part in the Iraq war -particularly with respect to harbouring fugitives from Saddam's regime.

The group had an extremely warm welcome wherever it went. The hope is that contacts of this sort will encourage Syria to take a proactive and positive lead in Middle East affairs and become a valued and respected member of the World Community.