New Page in Relations with France

The official Syrian press highlighted President Bashar al-Assad's visit to Paris at the end of this week, saying it shows the two nations are turning a page in their troubled relationship.



Assad will meet French president Nicolas Sarkozy on July 12 and participate in a summit of Mediterranean leaders the following day.



Writing in the official newspaper Al-Thawra on July 9, writer Khalid al-Ashhab argued that Syria and the rest of the world are counting on France to change European attitudes to Damascus.



He said that up till now the United States had dominated European policy on Syria, but now Europe had “a real, historic chance to regain through French leadership what they lost because of the Bush administration”.



In an editorial the same day, Al-Thawra editor-in-chief of, Asad Abud said Assad’s visit was an important sign that France is moving away from a policy of pressuring Syria towards one of dialogue and cooperation.



Abud suggested improved relations with France would have a ripple effect. “France carries the European flag, and Syria carries the Arab flag,” he said.



In a more critical editorial published in the official Tishreen newspaper on July 5, editor-in-chief Isam Dari indirectly criticised Sarkozy’s proposal for a Mediterranean Union, intended to bring together countries around the sea to work together on energy, security, immigration and trade issues.



Dari said that while Arabs see Europe as an economic partner, the Europeans simply want to market their goods and obtain resources from the Arab world.



But Dari also said maintained that Arabs want the strongest possible relations with Europe, and that Arab nations have an interest in the stability and security of the region.



One practical result of improved relations with France is that Syria might be able to purchase Airbuses for Syrian Arab Airlines, as Hiam Ali, editor-in-chief of the pro-government website Syria Steps, reported on July 6.



In late May, Transport Minister Yarob Badr said the airline had had to cancel orders for new planes because of US economic sanctions.



"It's clear that the political situation which clouded the skies of two countries has disappeared," wrote Ali.