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US not Syria's enemy — Assad
Jordan Times, Monday, December 15, 2003
ATHENS (AFP) — Syrian President Bashar Al Assad said in an interview published here Sunday he did not consider the United States an enemy despite their sharp differences. The interview — appearing ahead of a visit to Greece — was given before the announcement of new US economic and diplomatic sanctions against Syria in order to force it to end alleged support for "terrorism."
Assad was also scheduled to arrive just hours after the announcement of the capture of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.
Washington has accused Damascus of allowing armed fighters to enter Iraq, and of hosting anti-Israeli groups such as Hizbollah, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The Syrian leader told the Greek newspaper Kathimerini: "Syria does not consider the United States its enemy despite numerous differences.
"We are against the occupation of Iraq, against the actions of American forces in Iraq, against violations of human rights."
Assad said he was also against "many other aspects of American policy in the region, including an attitude biased in favour of Israel."
US President George W. Bush signed a bill into law on Friday providing for sanctions against Iraq to persuade Damascus to end its alleged support for "terrorism," halt development of chemical and biological arms as well as medium- and long-range missiles, and withdraw the roughly 20,000 troops it has deployed in Lebanon.
Assad and his wife were scheduled to arrive in Greece late Sunday for a three-day visit just a few days after the imposition of the sanctions.
In his interview, Assad denied providing materials and military support to Hizbollah or any other organisation.
The only solution to the Middle East problem was withdrawal by Israel from the occupied territories, he said.
Assad was scheduled Monday to meet Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos, and on Tuesday Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the heads of political parties, and the Athens mayor.
The Syrian leader noted in his interview that Greece was an active EU member. "Greece could be Syria's gateway to the European Union," he was quoted as saying: "And Syria could be Greece's gateway to the Arab world."
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