Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad welcomed Canadian Foreign Minister Joe Clark yesterday as part of his Middle East tour. The Canadian Embassy explained that Clark’s visit aimed to evaluate the regional situation following the Gulf War.
Upon his arrival at Damascus International Airport, Mr. Nasser Kadour, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Director of the America and Protocol Departments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the Canadian Ambassador in Damascus, received him. In a statement, Mr. Clark emphasized Syria’s crucial role in addressing key regional issues, stating, “I believe Syria plays an important role in these matters. That’s why Lozi Kindi’s first visit to Syria in eight years aims to hold significant discussions with Syrian officials regarding these issues. Additionally, during this visit, I would like to address several concerns shared by both countries, as well as other issues related to economic development and the region.”
Regarding his visits to various countries in the region, he mentioned, “My objective is to consult and gather different perspectives to study and explore the possibilities of enhancing cooperation between Canada and the countries in this region, especially after the conclusion of the Gulf War.”
Upon his arrival, Clark engaged in discussions with Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam. An official source confirmed that the talks focused on developments in the Arab-Israeli conflict, the consequences of the Gulf War, and bilateral relations. The outcome of the meeting held in Damascus on the fifth and sixth of this month, which involved foreign ministers from Syria, Egypt, and the GCC countries, was also reviewed.
Clark is expected to depart from Damascus later and travel to Tehran.
