Friday, Feb 18, 2005
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By Atul Aneja
MANAMA, FEB. 17. Syria and Iran, for the second day running, have issued statements underscoring their unity in the face of external threats. The visiting Syrian Prime Minister, Naji al-Otari, said in Teheran today that Syria and Iran had a "strategic" relationship. Iran's official Islamic Republic New Agency (IRNA) quoted Mr. Otari as saying, "The two countries' common enemies are concerned over the existing amicable ties between the two brother countries (Iran and Syria)." Mr. Otari's observations came soon after the United States made statements, reinforcing its displeasure with Syria, following the assassination of Lebanon's former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. Hours after Syria declared it had formed a united front with Iran in the wake of external threats, the U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, said Washington had "an increasing list of problems" with Damascus. The U.S. in the past has blamed Syria for sheltering some of the "inner circle" members of the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein's regime and sending busloads of fighters to combat American forces in Iraq.
"Identical positions"
Defending the Syrian position on Iraq, the Speaker of Iran's Parliament, Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, who received the Syrian Prime Minister earlier in the day, said that Syria and Iran shared identical positions on the questions of Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon. Mr. Adel added that the U.S.' greater West Asia plan was "doomed." Syria has taken action against suspected Al-Qaeda members, but has not closed offices of the Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad as demanded by Washington. The pro-Iranian Hezbollah group also reportedly receives support from Syria.
Russian criticism
Meanwhile, a commentary in the Russian News and Information Agency, Novosti, has criticised the U.S. approach and said that Syria and Iran were indispensable for achieving peace in West Asia. Mr. Assad had visited Moscow last month amid reports that Syria was seeking Igla surface-to-air missiles and the advanced SS-26 Iskander missiles from Russia.
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