West Germany will resume financial assistance to Syria, frozen since 1986 because of Syria’s involvement with international terrorism, it was reported here from Damascus Monday.
The promise was made by the West German minister for economic cooperation, Hans Klein, who is on a four-day visit to Damascus. Klein visited several development projects in Syria financed by the Bonn government for which it will make available some $87 million this year.
According to Klein, Damascus is serious in its efforts to resolve the hostage crisis.
Klein reported that he was assured by President Hafez Assad Sunday that Syria would do everything in its power to help free Rudolph Cordes, a West German businessman being held hostage by extremists linked to the Hezbollah (Party of God) in Lebanon.
A court in Duesseldorf is currently hearing the case of Abbas Ali Hamadei, a Lebanese accused of masterminding the kidnapping of Cordes and another West German, Alfred Schmidt. Schmidt has since been released.
A Frankfurt court is scheduled to hear the case of Mohammed Ali Hamadei, Abbas’ brother, who is accused of hijacking an American airliner in 1985 and killing one of its passengers.
Reporters accompanying Klein said the minister expressed understanding for Syria’s position toward Israel. The newspaper Die Welt quoted Klien as saying that many of the “alleged” illegal activities of the Syrian secret services in West Germany were based on “absurd accusations” made by the Americans.
West Germany joined the United States and other Western European countries two years ago in downgrading diplomatic ties with Damascus. A west German court found at the time that Syrian agents were involved in promoting terrorism here.
Klein, a well-known supporter of the Arab cause, has maintained a basically friendly attitude toward Israel. He has frequent contact with Israeli officials in Bonn.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
