France/Syria

Sarkozy wants to bring Syria back into the fold

Article published on the 2008-09-03 Latest update 2008-09-04 13:17 TU

Nicolas Sarkozy greets Bashir al-Assad at the Elysee during his visit to Paris in July.
(Photo : Reuters)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy starts a two-day visit to Damascus Wednesday as the first western leader to visit the Middle Eastern state in five years. The visit is the high point so far of France's efforts to reintegrate Damascus back into normal relations with the West.

Sarkozy’s trip is a diplomatic success for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been moving to bring his country out of its isolation.

Following the 2005 assassination of Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri, the US and many EU countries cut off relations put Syria on the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, despite Damascus's denial that it was involved in the murder. Since then Assad has made al policy changes hailed as progress by the west.

Following massive demonstrations condemning the assassination, Syria withdrew the troops that it had stationed in Lebanon for over 30 years.

After months of political crisis in Lebanon early this year, Syria established diplomatic relations with its neighbour for the first time.

In July, Assad made a highly-publicised visit to Paris for the Mediterranean Union Summit, hosted by Sarkozy, and attended Bastille Day celebrations alongside Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Paris-bassed political researcher Ziad Majid believes that Sarkozy's efforts have backing in Brussels and Washington.

"There is a belief now that, if Syria is engaged, then it may abandon with time the alliance with Iran, which may isolate Iran and force it to negotiate on the nuclear issue," he told RFI, adding that he is not convinced that the strategy will succeed.

"Sarkozy and Assad will round off the visit on Thursday by sitting down with the leaders of Qatar and Turkey, to discuss indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel, which Ankara has been mediating .

Sarkozy, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU, maintains his role in Middle Eastern peace.

“As I told President Bashir al-Assad when he came to Paris on 12 July, the path of peace in this region passes through our countries,” Sarkozy said before his departure.