A high-ranking Syrian official confirmed that his country would boycott a meeting of EU foreign ministers and their Mediterranean rim counterparts in Valencia, Spain next week.
"Out of respect for the sentiments of the Arab and Palestinian people, Syria has informed the European Union that it was impossible for it to participate in the meeting in Valencia," a top Syrian official from the foreign ministry told AFP.
"The presence of one party who snaps its finger at all constructive dialogue makes this meeting useless," he added on condition of anonymity.
"The Israeli government could even consider this meeting as an acceptance of its racist policies and as a reward for the challenge it has thrown at the international community."
Syria's ambassador to Spain, Mohsen Bilal, warned earlier Friday that his country would not attend the April 22-23 meeting unless Israel is kept away.
"We cannot tolerate Israel's brutality towards the Palestinian people, our brothers," Bilal said.
It is not clear whether Lebanon, which is dominated by its neighbour Syria, will attend.
The Euro-Med partnership includes the 15-nation EU, plus Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.
Patrick Renauld, the EU's representative in Beirut, said "the European Commission considers that it would be a mistake for (the Barcelona Process) to become a hostage of the (Middle East) peace process." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
