Hey, you said it... not me...
I'm not the one that turned this into a Hillary thread... not this time... nope...
Posted on 01/01/2004 12:15:49 PM PST by freedom44
DAMASCUS, Syria, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Syria is bracing itself to enter into a long-awaited partnership agreement with the European Union in early 2004 under which the country will be bound to introduce reforms and open up its closed economy.
The Syrian leadership is speeding up negotiations which will open European markets to Syrian products.
Damascus also looks at the agreement as a possible alternative to counter U.S. threats of economic and diplomatic isolation that could be imposed on Syria through implementation of the Syria Accountability and Lebanon Sovereignty Restoration Act.
The Act, passed in the Congress and signed by President George W. Bush last Dec. 12, stipulates economic and diplomatic sanctions against Syria for harboring terrorist organizations, seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction and occupying Lebanon.
As Syria looks forward to its new partnership with Europe, economic reforms are expected to move slowly with the advent of a new government under Prime Minister Mohammed Naji al-Otari which was quick to announce an economic reform plan for restructuring the national economy.
The first private banks in Syria are expected to start operating early 2004 with the hope of attracting larger foreign investments, in line with a government policy to secure new job opportunities.
Economic reforms appear to be a priority for the Syrian government next year. Political reform might be delayed, although the Baath Party's leadership promised earlier this year to loosen the party's grip on the country by separating the state from the party.
Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam had stressed that the party is not static but could be developed and modernized to suit internal and international changes within the limits of its unyielding principles.
A step in that direction would undoubtedly be welcomed by the West, but the nature of the promised change, notably whether the party's role would be limited to planning, monitoring, supervision and accountability remains to be seen.
Restrictions on public and media freedoms are also expected to ease next year with the possible reactivation of unlicensed civil organizations which had declared full allegiance and loyalty to the nation and rejected any change imposed from outside, especially after the ouster of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.
Although the upcoming partnership agreement with the EU will give Syria an important international boost, the leadership in Damascus does not wish that to happen at the expense of its relations with the United States.
Syrian President Bashar Assad stressed on several occasions that Damascus attaches great importance on its relations with Washington on the basis of mutual respect and as such, encourages the ongoing dialogue with the United States, which continued, even when relations were most strained in the aftermath of Baghdad's fall to U.S. forces April 9, 2003.
Damascus appears confident that the sanctions which Washington is threatening to impose, are not practical nor realistic, in view of the U.S.'s need for Syria's cooperation to maintain control of the border with Iraq..
Easing tension in U.S.-Syrian relations is expected in 2004, especially that Washington had promised economic assistance and bigger cooperation if Syria complies to U.S. demands spelled out in the Accountability Act. However, should Syria fails to show enough cooperation in controlling its border with Iraq, escalation of tension could not be ruled out.
No breakthrough in the Middle East conflict is expected next year as the U.S. administration will remain focused on the presidential race. Therefore, the Palestinian as well as Syrian and Lebanese peace tracks will probably remain dormant.
On the brighter side, expectations of a major breakthrough in Syrian-Turkish relations are high. Relations between the two neighboring countries which cmae close to a military confrontation in 1998 over Syria's harboring of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, have warmed up significantly over the past few years, paving the ground for better cooperation in combating terrorism and extremism.
Turkey is an important economic partner for Syria. It could also play a key role in bringing about rapprochement between Damascus and Washington.
Moreover, Syria's relations with France which have improved both on the political and economic fronts in 2003, are expected to be boosted after Damascus signs the partnership agreement with the EU.
Ties with Britain have remained constant and stable despite London's participation in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, while relations with Spain are expected to get a further boost next year due to efforts by Madrid to mend fences between Syria and the U.S.
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