Asked about Chavez's visit to Syria, U.S. State Department
spokesman Tom Casey suggested the Venezuelan leader should
remind Damascus about its international obligations to
prevent the Hezbollah militant group from receiving weapons
in southern Lebanon...."We think what's important for anyone
having discussions with the Syrian government to do is to
emphasize the need for Syria to meet its international
obligations," Casey said Tuesday. "And that includes
complying with its long-standing obligations under U.N.
Security Council Resolution 1559, as well as the additional
ones placed upon it in Resolution 1701."
Again, we see great concern over UN resolutions, except those many resolutions
that Israel has been violating for decades. All this while Lebanon lays in ruins
from Israeli aggression. Congratulations to Chavez for promoting solidarity
amongst the victims of imperialism.
rkm
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Original source URL:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060830/ap_on_re_mi_ea/syria_venezuela_1
Chavez vows to stand by Syria
By ALBERT AJI, Associated Press Writer
Wed Aug 30, 5:55 AM ET
Thousands of Syrians lined the streets of the capital Wednesday waving banners
and flags to welcome Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who pledged to stand by
Syria in opposition to American "imperialist aggression" in the Middle East.
Syrian President Bashar Assad hosted Chavez at the People's Palace, where the
two leaders strolled down a red carpet alongside a 21-gun salute while a
marching band played the Syrian and Venezuelan national anthems.
"We have the same political vision and we will resist together the American
imperialist aggression," Chavez told reporters upon his arrival at the Damascus
airport late Tuesday. He said the two countries will sign a document opposing
U.S. "aggression" in the Middle East.
Assad greeted Chavez at the airport and thanked him for his support for Middle
Eastern nations, saying the Venezuelan president has made "great stands" in
support of Arab causes.
"We appreciate your sincere feelings toward the peoples who have their rights
and are under occupation, as well as your sincere humanitarian and moral
sentiments," Assad was quoted as saying through an interpreter.
Chavez has built close ties with Iran, Syria and other Mideast countries while
his relations have grown tense with the U.S. and Israel.
Earlier this month, Chavez compared Israel's attacks on Hezbollah militants in
Lebanon to the Holocaust and withdrew Venezuela's ambassador to the Jewish
state. Israel responded by recalling its ambassador to Venezuela, criticizing
what it called Chavez's "wild slurs."
Last month, Chavez visited Iran and received the country's highest state medal
for supporting Tehran in its nuclear standoff with the international community.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the South American leader "a
brother and trench mate."
Asked about Chavez's visit to Syria, U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey
suggested the Venezuelan leader should remind Damascus about its international
obligations to prevent the Hezbollah militant group from receiving weapons in
southern Lebanon.
He cited a 2004 U.N. resolution that called for the disarmament of all
guerrillas in Lebanon and the Aug. 14 cease-fire resolution that called for an
arms embargo against Hezbollah. Israel accuses Syria of supplying arms to the
Lebanese militia.
"We think what's important for anyone having discussions with the Syrian
government to do is to emphasize the need for Syria to meet its international
obligations," Casey said Tuesday. "And that includes complying with its
long-standing obligations under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559, as well
as the additional ones placed upon it in Resolution 1701."
Chavez consistently accuses the U.S. of conspiring to oust him and often asserts
the CIA is working to destabilize his government. President Bush's government
has repeatedly labeled Chavez a threat to democracy, but U.S. officials have
denied trying to overthrow the leftist Chavez.
Syrian state-run newspapers hailed Chavez's visit Wednesday. An editorial in the
Tishrin government paper called him a "brave man" and said his visit showed
Venezuelans and Syrians were "standing in one trench because their enemy is the
same."
"Damascus is receiving today a man of steadfastness ... who stands in the face
of huge challenges and says `no' to U.S. policies and plans," it said.
Chavez's visit provides "support and backing to the forces of justice, freedom
and independence," said an editorial in the ruling Baath party's newspaper.
___
Associated Press Writer Christopher Toothaker contributed to this report from
Caracas, Venezuela.
Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
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