U.S. wants EU to hold off on signing trade pact with Syria

[lovuian]

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/584249.html

By Reuters

The Bush administration wants the European Union to hold off on signing a trade and aid pact with Syria, citing doubts Damascus has withdrawn all intelligence agents from Lebanon, its support of terror groups and concerns about its role in Iraq, said U.S. and European officials on Saturday.

The administration's push to keep the already long-delayed EU-Syria pact on hold underscores its determination to maintain pressure on Damascus and keep a lid, for now, on any overtures from Europe to warm ties with Syria.

Diplomats said some in Europe were preparing to push ahead with signing the so-called Association Agreement as a reward to Syria for pulling its soldiers out of Lebanon after 29 years.






In talks with EU leaders this week in Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other officials told the delegation that such a step would be premature.

"We don't think it's a particularly good idea," said a U.S. official summarizing Rice's message to the EU leaders.

The official said Rice raised objections because of the "whole pattern of Syrian behavior," including Damascus' support for terror groups, its failure to patrol the Iraq border and U.S. doubts about whether the Syrians have pulled "their covert presence" out of Lebanon

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Its the same strategy as they used with Saddam ... Bush keeps wanting more and more concessions!!! and he will still invade them!!!