Syrian Vice President Faruq al-Shara charged on Thursday that the United States and Israel do not want Syria or the Palestinians involved in any Middle East peace settlement.
Syria has decided to close its Jussa-Al-Qaa border post with Lebanon because of the month-long battle between the Lebanese army and Islamists, the state news agency SANA announced.
On June 19, the state arms dealer Rosoboroneksport denied a report in that day's issue of the daily "Kommersant" that the firm recently began shipments of five MiG-31E interceptor fighters to Syria as part of a deal funded by Iran, Russian news agencies reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," June 19, 2007). Sergei Chemezov, who heads the company, said at the Le Bourget Air Show near Paris that "Russia ...
The Masnaa border crossing with Syria witnessed heavy congestion on Thursday, a day after Syria's decision to close down the northern Qaa-Joussieh crossing, as merchants and residents sought alternative routes for commerce and travel.
Syria - Iran - Relations Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Shara here on Thursday strongly supports his country's ties with Tehran and underlined that it would be to the benefit of Arab countries.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem was quoted as saying Thursday that Syria is "more than ready" to renew peace talks with Israel. Moallem, speaking at a meeting with European Union envoys in Damascus, said the two sides must approach peace talks without preconditions.
Syria is expected to take a huge leap in air combat capability when it begins receiving advanced MiG-31E fighter jets from Russia.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert played down during a White House visit Tuesday the possibility of an immediate resumption of peace talks between Israel and Syria.
Amnesty International is greatly concerned by the imprisonment of seven peaceful advocates of political reform in Syria who were sentenced to prison terms on 17 June 2007 after an unfair trial in Damascus.
Syrian officials closed a border crossing to Lebanon because of fighting between Lebanese troops and militants at a refugee camp near Tripoli.