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| Syrian-Romanian Relations 11/10/2010 |
| (2010-11-11) |
| Last updated: 2010-11-12 13:15 EET |
During the official meeting with president Traian Basescu, the Syrian president said Romania appears to have consolidated its traditional stand in the Middle East – referring to the role of Romanian diplomacy in settling various conflicts in the area, as well as its position as a trading partner. Bashar al Assad, who on Wednesday discussed the evolution and prospects of bilateral relations with Romanian officials, added that Romania’s involvement could be even more significant.
The Syrian president attended the signing of various agreements concerning the naval sector, the environment and the fight against crime. Among these, Bashar Al Assad signed an agreement on the transfer of people sentenced to imprisonment. The document might enable the extradition of Romania-Syrian citizen Omar Hayssam, who was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment in absentia, in relation to his role in orchestrating the kidnapping of three Romanian journalists in Iraq, back in 2005.
Hayssam was detained due to his illicit business, only to be subsequently released on medical grounds. He fled the country in 2006. Judicial sources suggest that the agreement signed in Bucharest is of much importance, since the current Syrian legislation does not allow the repatriation demanded by Romania, but only the transfer of a Syrian citizen to the country where he received his conviction.
The two heads of state managed to agree on a compromise formula following the 2008 round of talks in Damascus and this year’s meeting in Bucharest. The head of the Romanian Intelligence Service George-Cristian Maior has recently expressed confidence that Omar Hayssam will serve his sentence on Romania’s territory.
The Syrian president’s visit to Bucharest also provides the opportunity to review bilateral economic relations. The analysis shows that the level of trade between the two countries has weakened over the past 20 years. President Assad has expressed his country’s readiness to relaunch economic relations with Romania and to boost naval co-operation, by striking a partnership on the Black Sea.
In this respect, Damascus is counting on Romania’s willingness to engage in a constructive dialogue. Romania’s status as a EU member state is an advantage that Syria is eager to make the most of. Along the same lines, a meeting of the two countries’ business people is scheduled for Thursday, being aimed mainly at establishing a Romanian-Syrian business council.
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