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Israel Should
Not Be Part of Coalition
AMMAN, Oct 7 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa Miro said Sunday in Amman that Israel represents "state terrorism" and should not be part of the international coalition to fight against terrorism, news agencies reported.
The U.S. has also stated that there is no role for Israel in the coalition against terrorism, but that they would "provide intelligence".
Also earlier this week, U.S. President George W. Bush announced his support for a Palestinian state, claming that "a Palestinian state had always been a part of the U.S.'s vision."
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell reprimanded Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for his criticism of the U.S.'s support for an independent Palestinian state. Powell told Sharon that Bush deemed his comments "unacceptable".
"Syria calls for the non-participation of Israel in any international effort linked to the fight against terrorism," said Miro, speaking at the inaugural session of the joint Jordanian-Syrian high committee, which he and his Jordanian counterpart Ali Abu Ragheb both chair.
"Israel, by pursuing its aggressive and expansionist policies against the Palestinians, by shirking the resolutions provided by international law and by sabotaging all efforts for a fair and comprehensive peace in the region, is a perfect example of state terrorism," he said.
Whilst reiterating his country's condemnation of the September 11th terror attacks against the United States, Miro called for "an international conference to be convened by the United Nations to define terrorism and establish a distinction between terrorism and the right of peoples to resist occupation."
For his part, Abu Ragheb voiced Amman's support for the Palestinian people and their Authority in their struggle to recover all their legitimate rights, including the right to an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital."
Upon his arrival, Miro met with Jordan King Abdullah II, with whom he discussed the developing international situation and bilateral relations, royal palace sources said.
His visit comes only days before the scheduled meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Qatar, ahead of which Syria is seeking to promote a unified Arab and Muslim stance on the definition of terrorism.
Following further joint committee meetings Monday, Amman and Damascus are expected to sign a free trade agreement replacing their 1975 convention, which was deemed "incompatible" with the requirements of the World Trade Organization, which Jordan joined in 2000.
More than ten other trade agreements are due to be signed by the two parties, an official Jordanian source said.
After years of strained relations, ties between Jordan and Syrian have thawed since Abdullah came to power in February 1999.
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