Syrian President to Attend UN Summit for the First Time

08/13/05 -- The Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Fayssal Mekdad, announced that President Bashar al-Asad has decided to attend a summit of the United Nations next month, this being the first time in recent history that a Syrian President has attended the international organization in New York.

Mekdad said, regarding al-Asad's attendance at this summit, that he considered it to be part of Damascus' new approach to taking part in international affairs and communicating with world leaders, making clear the president's measures to accomplish a dialogue with American officials regarding this one-sided effort to address the problem between the two countries.

It is anticipated that more than 170 world leaders will attend this summit, to discuss the adoption of new methods for development, security, and human rights, and the direction of the United Nations in the 21st Century.

Damascus, much like Teheran, faces criticism from the Bush administration, due to claims that it has not made its best effort to prohibit the flood of insurgents, arms, and cash to Iraq.

The United States is also considered one of the principle instigators behind one of the United Nations' resolutions demanding that Syria withdraw its forces from Lebanon.

Last week, Mekdad once again denied the American accusations, saying that his country has spread approximately 10,000 soldiers and set up more than 300 surveillance towers along the length of its borders, but the borders of the adjacent portion of Iraq are wide open.

He added that London and Washington have deigned not to respond to Syria's appeals for aid, such as night-vision gear for border surveillance.

--Translated by C.G. Häberl

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