October 11, 2009
Syria, EU partnership agreement to be signed in 2 weeks
A European diplomatic source said Thursday that representatives of the European Union countries had agreed to sign the EU-Syria Association Agreement at the end of the current month.
"Decision has been taken to sign the Agreement with Syria on October 26th, in Luxemburg," AFP quoted the diplomatic source as saying.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External relations said earlier that the EU is determined to sign an agreement with Syria to hold more consolidated ties between the two sides, saying that cooperation with Syria pours in the interest of the EU.
"The deal is due to be signed with Syria on October 26 in Luxembourg," said the diplomat, at a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
The EU and Syria first drew up a draft pact in 2004 but it was never signed by EU nations -- with the Netherlands in particular demanding a clause allowing for its suspension in the event of proven rights abuses.
A Dutch diplomat said that once such an "emergency brake" was put in place, it would be happy to sign at the Luxembourg gathering.
According to another diplomatic source, the new treaty will help the union "develop a substantial dialogue on the human rights situation in Syria, which remains a source of concern to the EU.
"Respect for human rights constitutes one of the essential elements of the agreement," it says.
The EU seeks to develop a closer relationship to Syria, which would provide for political dialogue, mutually beneficial trade and investment relations, and cooperation on economic, social and democratic reform.
Syria is a signatory of the 1995 Barcelona Declaration. In the absence of an EU-Syria Association Agreement in force, Syria cannot benefit yet from the European Neighbourhood Policy. Technical negotiations on the agreement were concluded in October 2004. However, the EU has deemed that political circumstances were so far not right for its signature and ratification.
The relations between the EU and Syria are currently governed by a Cooperation Agreement which was signed in 1977. Priorities of our co-operation with Syria are defined in the Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Programme. The main aim of this co-operation is to support Syria’s domestic reform process.
A European diplomatic source said Thursday that representatives of the European Union countries had agreed to sign the EU-Syria Association Agreement at the end of the current month.
"Decision has been taken to sign the Agreement with Syria on October 26th, in Luxemburg," AFP quoted the diplomatic source as saying.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External relations said earlier that the EU is determined to sign an agreement with Syria to hold more consolidated ties between the two sides, saying that cooperation with Syria pours in the interest of the EU.
"The deal is due to be signed with Syria on October 26 in Luxembourg," said the diplomat, at a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
The EU and Syria first drew up a draft pact in 2004 but it was never signed by EU nations -- with the Netherlands in particular demanding a clause allowing for its suspension in the event of proven rights abuses.
A Dutch diplomat said that once such an "emergency brake" was put in place, it would be happy to sign at the Luxembourg gathering.
According to another diplomatic source, the new treaty will help the union "develop a substantial dialogue on the human rights situation in Syria, which remains a source of concern to the EU.
"Respect for human rights constitutes one of the essential elements of the agreement," it says.
The EU seeks to develop a closer relationship to Syria, which would provide for political dialogue, mutually beneficial trade and investment relations, and cooperation on economic, social and democratic reform.
Syria is a signatory of the 1995 Barcelona Declaration. In the absence of an EU-Syria Association Agreement in force, Syria cannot benefit yet from the European Neighbourhood Policy. Technical negotiations on the agreement were concluded in October 2004. However, the EU has deemed that political circumstances were so far not right for its signature and ratification.
The relations between the EU and Syria are currently governed by a Cooperation Agreement which was signed in 1977. Priorities of our co-operation with Syria are defined in the Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Programme. The main aim of this co-operation is to support Syria’s domestic reform process.
