Vice-President arrives in Damascus

IRAQ NEWS AGENCY (State-run)

August 28, 2002

Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan arrived in Damascus on Tuesday on several-days visit to Syria.

Syrian Prime Minister Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Miro topped the receivers at Damascus airport accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Dr. Mohammed Al-Hussein.

Ramadan stressed that “the visit comes to consult and exchange viewpoints in various fields on Arab arena.”

The Vice-President reiterated Iraqi people’s firm stances and its abiding readiness to thwart any aggressive US bid, referring to an increase in the voices rejecting the policy of hegemony and aggression imposed by the US administration.

Ramadan, accompanied by a high-level delegation, is due to meet Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and senior government officials during a three-day visit.

Although Ramadan's visit has an economic agenda -- a set of trade, economic, health, education and environment agreements are due to be signed -- analysts say its aim is to send a strong message to Washington that all Arabs stand with Iraq against Washington’s folly.

"This visit has an economic character but it also has a political dimension, especially as Syria opposes a strike on Iraq and is working hard to build an Arab front to head off any US attack," political analyst Imad Shueibi said.

Syria's official press called on Tuesday for Arab unity in the face of a common threat.

"All the Arabs without exception are at risk," Al Baa'th newspaper said in its commentary.

"What they want is clear -- total control, with no condition, of the Middle East and to force its states to get in line with a global military-political system based on wiping out all forms of opposition and redrawing the map of the area as they see fit and in a way that serves the Zionist entity, its interests and ambitions.