Opposition has developed within the European Parliament to rewarding Syria financially for its participation in the U.S.-led coalition of Western and Arab countries now fighting Iraq.
The parliament, the European Community’s legislative body based in Strasbourg, France, is divided over a decision by the 12 E.C. foreign ministers to release some $200 million in withheld grants and loans to Syria. The parliament must give formal approval when it convenes next week.
Some of the 518 deputies have expressed concern that Syria is a country where “human rights are still violated on a large scale.”
Others insist that Syria’s participation in the coalition is an “important political development” and say Damascus will have an important role to play in the postwar diplomatic process.
The ministers’ decision in Brussels earlier this month ended a four-year economic freeze of Syria. The E.C. suspended financial and economic cooperation with that country in 1986 because of the alleged association of the Syrian authorities with terrorists who tried to blow up an El Al plane at Heathrow airport near London.
The new financial protocol, which the European Parliament will be asked to endorse, provides for loans and grants from the E.C. budget through the European Investment Bank and funding for venture capital initiatives.
The E.C. has separately approved a five-year protocol for Israel of about $120 million in the form of European Investment Bank loans.
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