President al-Assad Reviews with Yemeni Prime Minister the Agenda of the Syrian-Yemeni Committee
 January 28, President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday reviewed  with Yemeni Prime Minister, Abdul –Qader Bajmal the agenda of the Syrian –Yemeni Higher Committee meetings.

During the meeting, the activation of  joint cooperation and raising the level of the work mechanisms in order to meet the aspirations of both countries in boosting economic , trade , and investment relations in the interests of both countries , were stressed.

The regional and international political situation , was reviewed.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister, Mohammed Naji Otri, the ambassadors of both countries, and  Yemeni Prime Minister's accompanying delegation.

President al-Assad reviews with Chairwoman of Belgian Senate bilateral relations

January 22, President Bashar al-Assad on Monday reviewed with Chairwoman of the Belgian Senate Anne-Marie Lizin the bilateral relations between the two countries and means of developing them in all fields. During the meeting, President al-Assad briefed the Belgian side on the political situation in the region and Syria's stances regarding the current events. The importance of continuing the European-Syrian communication, Belgium's active  role in enhancing this communication and activating visits between Syria and Belgium, particularly among members of Parliaments in the two countries were also emphasized. The two sides underlined the necessity of achieving the just and comprehensive peace based on the international legitimacy resolutions, as well as the importance of achieving stability in the region since instability in the region affects negatively Europe as well. For her part, Ms. Lizin hailed Syria's pivotal role in establishing stability in the region, pointing out to the European vision regarding the situation in the region.Speaker of the People's Assembly Dr. Mahmoud al-Abrash and Belgium's Ambassador in Damascus Dirk Loncke attended the meeting.

President al-Assad Issues Legislative Decree No. 9

January 27, President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday issued the Legislative Decree No. 9 for the year 2007 stipulating for the establishment of a board named "The Syrian Investment Board."

The Damascus-based board is of body corporate, enjoys the financial and administrative independence and is connected with the Prime Minister.

The board aims at carrying out the national investment policies, developing and enhancing investment environment in Syria.

The decree provides for for formation of the High Investment Council, its tasks and management of the Syrian Investment Board and its missions and competences.

It also includes setting up one window in the board and its branches for offering services to investors .

President al-Assad Issues Legislative Decree No. 8

January 27, President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday issued the Legislative Decree No. 8 for the year 2007 on investment.

The decree includes articles on investment guarantees, advantages and motives of investment as well as its general rules.

This decree ended the work by the law No. 10 released in 1991 and its amendments.

Foreign Minister Meets Deputy Armenian FM

January 29, Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem discussed with Deputy Foreign Minster of Armenia Gegham Gharibjanian and the accompanying delegation on Monday the bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and means of enhancing them for their best benefits. Both sides agreed on the importance of continuing the cooperation and consultation in different fields, particularly in the economic fields in light of the forthcoming meeting of the Syrian-Armenian Economic Committee in March. Mr. Muallem stressed in this regard the significance of exchanging visits between the two countries and keenness on establishing closest ties with the Republic of Armenia. The meeting was attended by Assistant Foreign Ministry Ahmad Arnouss and the Directors of Europe and the Special Office at the Foreign Ministry.

Syria and Japan to Cooperate in Reconstructing Process in Iraq

January 28, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem underlined on Sunday Syria's keenness to exert efforts to realize security and stability in Iraq in a way that makes process of rebuilding Iraq a success.

Receiving the Japanese Ambassador for reconstruction of Iraq Gotaro Ogawa. Mr. al-Moallem stressed  Syria's care to cooperate with Japan in this regard. For his part ,the Japanese Ambassador briefed Foreign Minister on the projects that the Japanese government is executing in Iraq in the framework of rebuilding process .

Syria and Iran Hold official Talks in Tehran

January 22, An official round of talks between Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem and his Iranian counterpart Manuchehr Mottaki was held here Monday during which discussions dealt with regional developments, particularly in Iraq and Palestine. Viewpoints were identical on the necessity of supporting the ongoing political process in Iraq based on the country’s independence, territorial integrity and the withdrawal of foreign troops from it. Both sides condemned attempts of inciting sedition among the Iraqi people, expressing support to the efforts exerted to achieve national reconciliation through a comprehensive conference. They also expressed support to the joint statement issued after the meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Chairman of Hamas  politburo Khaled Mishaal.  Muallem and Mottaki stressed the importance of boosting the Palestinian national dialogue, prohibiting internal conflict, backing efforts to form a Palestinian national unity government. Later, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem discussed in a meeting with Chairman of the Iranian Expediency Council Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani the bilateral relations, cooperation and the latest developments in the region. During the meeting, Minister Moallem conveyed President Bashar al-Assad's  compliments to Sheikh Rafsanjani, in return, Mr. Rafsanjani expressed his best wishes to President Assad, stressing importance of continuing coordination between both countries.

Syrian-Yemeni Higher Joint Committee Wrap up Meetings

January 28, Syria and Yemen inked Sunday the minutes of the Syrian-Yemeni Joint Higher Committee at the end of a two-day meetings concluding the seventh session of the committee gathering.

Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Ottri, heading the Syrian side and Yemeni counterpart Abdul Kader Bajammal chairing the Yemeni side signed the minutes.
12 cooperation agreements, protocols, executive programs in addition to understanding memorandums to enhance the bilateral cooperation were also signed. There were two agreements on cooperation in domains of radio and T.V and fish resources while the executive programs covered fields of health and medicine, judiciary and legal cooperation, social affairs, agriculture, expatriates affairs, protection of environment in addition to cooperation between the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA and Yemeni News Agency SABA. Understanding memos and protocols covered areas of technical teaching and youth and sports affairs. The minutes touched upon other fields of cooperation, It covered mechanisms of cooperation and aspects of joint coordination in fields of education and higher education, culture, scientific research, information, environment, media, housing and construction, sport, tourism, expatriating affairs and health, Spheres of cooperation in fields of economy, trade,  investment, customs, banks and finance, agriculture, fish, communications, oil and mineral resources in addition to social affairs and labor and youth and sports affairs was included in the minutes.

In the political domain, Syria and Yemen stressed commitment to the just and comprehensive peace as a strategic choice .

" Peace can't be achieved but by full withdrawal of Israel from the occupied Arab territories including the occupied Syria Golan till 1967 Jun 4th line in addition to the rest of South of Lebanon and establishment of the Palestinian independent state with al-Qudes /Jerusalem / as its capital as well as in accordance to the UN resolutions Nos. 242, 338 and 425, land-for-peace formula and Madrid terms of reference in addition to the Arab peace initiative," they stressed.

Both sides emphasized necessity of preserving "the unity of Palestinian people continuing the dialogue among the various political powers for forming the national unity government.

They condemned the political, economic, and military siege and all procedures of collective punishment are taken by government of the Israeli occupation against Palestinians ," calling on the international community to work in order to lift this siege and halt all that practices, repressive procedures and the Israeli aggression imposed on Palestinians.

The Minutes underlined Syria and Yemen's adherence to the integrity of  Iraqi land and people, calling for a real national dialogue with the participation of all Iraqi spectrums with the aim of halting violence and the ongoing disputes and for putting a timetable for pull out of the foreign troops from Iraq.

They called to make the Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons, urging the international community to compel Israel to join the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Syria and Yemen condemned all kinds and forms of terrorism that has nothing to do with race, religion or doctrine, denouncing all suspicious attempts to link terrorism with the Arab and Muslims.

Both sides renewed denouncing of the international sanctions as a way to press and blackmail the international relations.

Later, Ottri and Bajmal, in a joint news conference, underlined importance of their meeting with President Bashar al-Assad and his directives that push tracks of cooperation between the two countries forwards in the different levels."

They spoke about outcomes of the joint committee meetings that concluded by inking a wide range of agreements covering fields of bilateral cooperation between the two sisterly countries.

Earlier, deliberations of the seventh session of the Syrian-Yemeni Higher Joint Committee started here yesterday .The committee meeting co-chaired by Premier Mohammad Naji Ottri and Yemeni counter part Abdul-Kader Bajmmal.

Al-Ahamar Meets Chinese Delegation

January 25, Assistant Secretary of al-Ba'ath Arab Socialist party Abdullah al-Ahmar  discussed on Thursday with Editor-in -Chief of People's newspaper mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist party and the accompanying delegation latest developments in the region and challenges of aggression, hegemony and occupation.

Both sides conferred relations between al-Ba'ath and People newspapers in the framework of cooperation program between the two countries.

Assistant Secretary al-Ahmar stressed "Syria's standing by steadfastness of the Palestinian people in resisting the Israeli occupation and restoring their full rights to establish independent state with al-Qudes (Jerusalem) as its capital." He also underlined "Syria's standing by the Iraqi people to end the occupation and restore sovereignty, as well as completing the political process, achieving the national reconciliation and building the future of Iraq without any foreign interference.

Assistant Secretary General renewed "Syria's keenness on the stability of Lebanon and baking the Lebanese national concordance."

He hailed China's stances rejecting the occupation and supporting the Arab causes to restore the occupied Syrian Arab Golan and establishing the independent Palestine state as a base to realize just and comprehensive peace based on relevant international resolutions of the United Nations.

He voiced satisfaction over developing of governmental party-relations between the two countries in all domains in a way that serves aims and joint interests of the two countries.


 

Economic news

 

Tourist Investment Forum – Recommendations

January 28, The 1st Developmental Tourist Investment Promotion Forum stressed Sunday wrapping up its deliberations the necessity of giving additional incentives and facilities to the tourist investments in the tourist areas.  The forum underlined the necessity of generalization plan for the tourist  anagement of Palmyra city and its tourist archeological sits in the developments areas taking into consideration the particularity for every site.

Memo of Understanding Between Syrian Government and UAE Qudra Holding Company

January 28, Deputy prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah Dardari, representing the Syrian government, and Chairman of Board of the UAE Qudra Holding Company Salah Salem bin Omeir al-Shamisi on Sunday signed a Memo of Understanding to enhance economic, tourism and services  relations. he two sides agreed on cooperation and getting use of expertise and investments available for each side to set up projects of high economic feasibility that help to create job opportunities and lucrative investment revenues. r. Dardari said that presence of the UAE Qudra Holding Company in Syria reflected the distinguished relationship between Syria and the UAE and the interest of the people the UAE in supporting the process of development in Syria. r. al-Shamisi said his Company is interested in real estates, tourism, housing and building of cities, infrastructure, sanitary systems and industrial powers.   

Syria and Romania Sign Memo of Understanding on old Debts

January 22, Syria and Romania on Monday signed a Memo of Understanding on a framework to settle the financial mutual obligations between the two countries.

Following the signing ceremony, Minister of Finance Dr. Mohammad al-Hussein said the agreement comes after both sides exerted joint efforts during the last years to settle debts, adding that the final agreement between the two sides will be signed within 90 days.

"The settlement included good provisions that achieve the interests of both sides to solve this issue… paving the way for enhancing economic bilateral ties between the two friendly countries which are linked by historic relations,” the Minister said.

Debt volume is $ 118 millions, and by settling this debt Syria finishes settling its old debts with all other countries, except for a minimum dossier with Poland.

With the compliments of the media department
Syrian Embassy - Beijing