CEPR

Palestine-041_860x100_2

August 25, 2011

Delegation to Syria, January 2011

Members of the European Parliament, as part of a delegation to Syria organised by the Council for European Palestinian Relations (CEPR) met with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem in January 2011.

The delegation of Members of the European Parliament and their representatives held wide-ranging and detailed discussions on key topics of interest including reconciliation between Palestinian factions, the Middle East peace process, Iraqi refugees in Syria and the current political situation in Lebanon and the wider region.

Speaking after the meeting Dr Arafat Shoukri, director of CEPR said:

"The talks were open, honest and constructive, covering a wide range of topics of mutual concern. The Syrian government is clearly committed to doing all it can to bring about reconciliation between the different Palestinian factions, which is vital if there is to be a just peace in Palestine."

Both parties agreed that Syria and Europe have important and constructive roles to play, particularly in finding a just and peaceful resolution for Palestine and working for a solution to the current instability in Lebanon, particularly given The United States' diplomatic retreat from the region.

Deportations contravene the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Fourth Geneva Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Article 9 of which prohibits arbitrary arrest, detention or exile - see also Articles 12 and 13

The CEPR is an independent non-profit and non-partisan organization registered in Belgium (BE 0828.629.725), with an office in London, that works towards a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the restitution of Palestinian rights in accordance with international law.