Israel Matzav

Assad and Kirchner pledge mutual support

If you happen to have a chance to ask a question from a member of the British government in the next day or two, ask them how they react to word that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Arengtine President Cristina Kirchner have agreed to back each other's respective claims to the Golan Heights and the Falklands Islands. Does this mean that the Brits will at least be a bit more fair to Israel? I don't know because I couldn't find any British comment about this story.

"I want to thank (Argentina's) support for Syria's bid to recover the Golan, just as we support Argentina for the Malvinas. We don't call them the Falklands, but Malvinas," said Assad, using the Spanish name for the archipelago Britain settled in 1833.

Speaking ahead of a lunch in Assad's honor, President Cristina Kirchner, in turn, thanked Syria's "permanent defense and support" of Argentina's claim to the Falklands, "just as we support the return of the Golan Heights to Syria."

Kirchner also said "Argentina wants to play a major role in achieving peace in the Middle East" for which, she said, it backs the Arab League's peace proposal and the two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis.

Assad and Kirchner also signed three agreements on media, transport and cultural relations, and agreed to boost bilateral trade, which in 2009 reached 380 million dollars.

Assad began his regional tour on June 24 in Venezuela, where he met with President Hugo Chavez. He then traveled to Cuba to meet President Raul Castro, and Wednesday and Thursday he was in Brazil to speak with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

After Argentina, Assad is expected in Spain for a two-day visit, Sunday and Monday.

Here's Britain's chance to do the right thing for a change. Will they?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:34 PM