Sarkozy welcomes Assad in Paris

French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) welcomes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad prior to a meeting at the Elysee palace on July 12, 2008 in Paris, on the eve of Paris summit of the Mediterranean countries.

12 July 2008

Paris-French President Nicolas Sarkozy has welcomed his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, to the Elysee Palace.

The meeting, part of a weekend of diplomatic efforts centred on the Middle East, marks a return to the world stage for the Syrian president.

Relations between the two countries became strained following the assassination in 2005 of Lebanon's former Prime Minister, Rafiq Hariri.

France accused Damascus of involvement, an allegation denied by Syria.

'Boost'

Mr Sarkozy will later host a meeting between Mr Assad and Lebanon's newly-elected president, Michel Suleiman, a day after the formation of a new unity government in Beirut.

Mr Suleiman told the Associated Press that Lebanon wanted an "exchange of ambassadors and diplomatic relations" with Syria.

The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since Rafiq Hariri's death.

The Paris visit is a big boost for Mr Assad, helping Syria to break out of its diplomatic isolation, says BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs.

But critics say it is too much of a reward, when there are still serious question-marks over human rights in Syria and its alleged role in the killing of Hariri.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Sarkozy held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who will be a key player in the French leader's plan for a union of Mediterranean states, our correspondent adds.

Mr Sarkozy is hosting a summit on Sunday to launch this union, which will be attended by 43 leaders of countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

Only Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is expected to boycott it.

(From left to right) Lebanese president Michel Sleimane, Qatari Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad attend a press conference at the Elysee Palace on 12 July 2008 in Paris, on the eve of the Paris summit of the Mediterranean countries; with the Leaders from some 40 countries.

Berlin Conference to Support Terrorism

Global Terrorist Mahmoud Abbas with some of his armed fraction.

17 June 2008

An international conference in Berlin next week is to call for donors to earmark $187million in alleged aid to support Mahmoud Abbas‘s terrorist organization, as verified by European Union officials on Tuesday.

The support under the guise of aid would come out of a total $7 billion already pledged to the Abbas terrorist organization.

The programs include for these terrorist contributions is strictly to further terrorism in Palestine through training of terrorist, and construction of illegal police stations, tortuous prisons and illegal court system, as well as other terrorist programs on this tab.

Global terrorist Salam Fayyad is to head the terrorist delegation to the Berlin conference, while U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is also expected to attend.

Muslims in Europe face more discrimination than American Muslims

9 June 2008

Kuala Lumpur-Muslims in Europe face greater discrimination as compared to American Muslims in civil and political life, according to an observatory report on Islamophobia carried out by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

In contrast with that in the United States, the report said the stigma was more visible and pronounced with more acute situations in Europe.

Bernama news agency said citing the report "Islam and the West Annual Report on the State of Dialogue" published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in January 2008 that clear majorities in all European countries surveyed, saw greater interaction between the West and the Muslim World as a threat.

The report said that it was true of 79 percent of the population in Denmark, Italy (67 percent), Netherlands (67 percent), Spain (68 percent), Sweden (65 percent) and Belgium (59 percent).

"This corresponds to a growing fear among Europeans of a perceived "Islamic threat" to their cultural identities, driven in part by rising immigration from predominantly Muslim regions.

"The WEF Report goes on to assert that in the United States (70 percent) and Canada (72 percent), the majority say that greater interaction was a benefit," it added.

The report said this however, did not deny the facts that Islamophobia was also on the rise in American society.

"An August 2006 USA Today/Gallup Poll for instance, reported that a significant number of Americans (were) willing to admit (that) they harboured at least some prejudice against Muslims," it added.

Meanwhile, the report has identified several root causes of Islamophobia consisting of ignorance or insufficient knowledge of Islam in non-Muslim societies that have contributed to the development of a mind-set in various strata of public opinion in the West and non-Muslim societies, at large.

This made them live with a perception that Islam was a religion that "lived by the sword', preached hatred and violence towards non- believers, and stood to challenge the Western way life.

"It is also caused by insufficient dissemination of information about Muslim countries being victims of terror attacks by extremists.

"The lack of coverage of the firm rejection of terrorism and extremism by the Muslim world's political leaders, including OIC leaders, mainstream public opinion and key religious authorities, in addition to the misrepresentation and incorrect interpretation of Islam at various levels have contributed significantly to the growth of Islamophobia," it said.

Europeans Already Looking Past President Bush

8 June 2008

By Deb Riechmann

Washington - President Bush's motorcade will speed through European capitals next week, but for many Europeans, the Bush presidency already is in their rearview mirrors.

Trans-Atlantic relations are on the upswing as European leaders have moved beyond their anger over the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Still, anti-Bush sentiment runs high on the streets, though that is being mollified by Europeans' excitement about the race for Bush's successor.

Like many Americans, Europeans have Bush fatigue. Many believe Barack Obama and John McCain will have different positions - perhaps more favorable - than Bush on issues important to Europe. The president continues promoting his agenda on climate change, Mideast peace and world trade issues, yet his influence has ebbed.

”I'm sure there will be some protests, but I think people are just looking past this guy at this point and they're interested in what comes next,” said James M. Goldgeier, an expert on Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations.

”There's no reason for any leader to give him anything because he's on the way out. You have a presidency that's losing energy, is consumed by Iraq and a president who is unpopular, in general, in Europe and people are looking beyond him,” Goldgeier said.

Bush's weeklong farewell trip to Slovenia, Germany, Italy, France and the United Kingdom is not Bush's final goodbye to his European counterparts. He sees them again at a summit next month in Japan.

Yet as he completes the final leg of his presidency, the trip to Central and Western Europe is one of Bush's last chances to lay the groundwork for U.S.-European relations for his successor.

The trip is not expected to yield any new deals.

Bush will ask for Europe's help in Afghanistan and push for stronger penalties against Iran to discourage Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Europe will nudge Bush forward on a blueprint for global warming. Talks also will touch on humanitarian aid, the world food crisis, Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, Lebanon and economic integration of both sides of the Atlantic.

Europeans know more about McCain, a longtime senator who frequently has traveled abroad, than they do about Obama, a newcomer to the world stage.

Obama has stirred curiosity. After he clinched enough delegates for the Democratic presidential nomination, The Times of London said in an editorial that his campaign “has rekindled America's faith in its prodigious powers of reinvention - and the world's admiration for America.”

America's image around the world has taken a bruising under Bush's watch. But while there will be a new president in January, some of the country's chief concerns probably continue along.

”Once President Bush is out of the White House, there will be huge expectations in Europe that a new rosy dawn of peace and love is appearing over the Atlantic and they're liable to be somewhat disappointed because America is still going to look after its own interests and the fundamental interests may not have changed that much,” said Reginald Dale, Europe program director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

On Iran, for instance, Europeans may not be that comfortable with the candidates' stances.

McCain favors tougher penalties against Iran and opposes direct high-level talks with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Obama initially said he would meet Ahmadinejad without preconditions. Now, the Illinois senator says he is not sure that Ahmadinejad is the “right person to meet with right now.” Obama says he thinks direct diplomacy with Iranian leaders, if that approach is in the national security interests of the U.S. and its allies, would give Washington more credibility to press for more international penalties.

But he also told a pro-Israel lobby group in Washington recently: “I will always keep the threat of military action on the table to defend our security and our ally, Israel.”

The Europeans also should not think they can ignore Bush's pleas for more financial and military aid for Afghanistan. Obama and McCain have said they want Europe to send more troops to Afghanistan and have hinted they want to see Europe spend a larger share of its money on defense.

On global warming, Europe expects it will have more common ground with Bush's successor.

Dan Price, deputy national security adviser for international affairs, said that is not necessarily true. He said Bush administration officials have argued that any future U.S. administration probably would not sign a new climate treaty that did not include binding commitments from the major emerging economies to address their own emissions. Bush has insisted that fast-growing countries such as China and India be involved in a negotiated solution.

On trade, Price said the administration is not hearing that the Europeans are looking beyond Bush.

Ahmadinejad: US Officials Should take Lessons from Events

18 October 2007

Tehran-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that certain powers, US in particular, should take lessons from the current events.

Making the remarks in the third round of nationwide assembly of municipal councils, he said that otherwise the US officials will be driven to isolation.

Pointing to the fact that Iranian nation is in state of defense, he said that thanks to the national perseverance, Iran will defend its integrity and independence.

"According to experience, whenever the nation has resisted pressures and threats, no power can harm their might and interests." He said that certain powers should know that the era of bombardment, jet fighters and bullying other nations have ended adding that Iran does not like to see a certain country is suffering in desperation, and even can overlook the hostility the US has done in the past against Iran.

Addressing the European countries, Ahmadinejad said, "You should make an appropriate decision and stop following US lead."

"What benefit have you obtained so far, because the US called you a partner in losses, we are sorry for that."

He said that certain states are subject to losses thanks to weakness of their leadership adding that the US has established missile bases in Europe, and posed threat to the European peace and security.

He said that Iran enjoys good relations with other countries citing the successful outcome of Summit of leaders of the Caspian states held in Tehran on October 16.

He noted that certain powers had attempted to create obstacles for Russian president to visit Iran, but their attempt was foiled by the Russian leadership.

"We've never taken reciprocal action to certain European countries rhetoric toward Iran and only give them advice to come to terms with Iran," Ahmadinejad said, adding, "If certain states decide to inflict economic losses on Iran, we will stop economic cooperation with them."

Hamas 'Still Willing to Negotiate with Europe'

14 August 2007

Gaza – Ma'an – The spokesperson of Hamas, Sami Abu Zuhri, on Tuesday affirmed the steadfastness of the movement in its readiness to open negotiations with western leaders.

Abu Zuhri expressed interest in the recent statements of Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who urged western states to enter into dialogue with Hamas.

Many other European nations have launched a similar appeal.

Abu Zuhri issued a statement declaring that the recent European pronouncements reveal the West's realization of the mistakes they have made in their dealings with Hamas.