By Xinhua,
Damascus : Visiting President of the European Parliament (EP) Hans-Gert Poettering Monday said Syria is “important and pivotal” in achieving regional peace.
“All sides need peace in the Middle East, … and peace won’t be realized without Syria… We wish to be a fair partner and playa bigger role in the peace process,” Poettering told a press conference here during his four-day official visit to Syria.
“We are committed to the peace process and welcome the Turkish meditation role in the indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel,” Poettering added.
Syria and Israel had four rounds of indirect peace talks under the mediation of Turkey and the fifth is due later this month.
Poettering also expressed appreciation of the development in Syria in all fields, adding that the completion of the partnership pact between Syria and the EU will contribute to economic cooperation.
The partnership pact between Syria and the EU was initialed in 2004, but a final signature was postponed after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Feb. 2005, which Damascus was allegedly involved in, but Syria denied any role.
The EP chief also thanked Syria for hosting the 1.5 million Iraqi refugees.
Poettering arrived here on Saturday and he had met senior Syrian officials, including President Bashar al-Assad.