The Syrian president's tour of Latin America has international and Arab consequence, notes Bassel Oudat from Damascus Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has just returned from Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, and Cuba in the first ever journey by a Syrian president to Latin America. During the tour, Al-Assad met with Latin leaders for talks on bilateral and regional affairs as well as matters of international politics. No major agreements were concluded during the tour, but several memoranda of understanding were signed and the Syrian president had ample opportunity to meet members of the Syrian community in these countries. Al-Assad visited health facilities and toured economic establishments run by Syrian émigrés. He also held several news conferences in which he harangued Israel and spoke of the need for Arab and Latin American countries to forge policies that are independent from those of Washington. Syrian politicians consider the visit a transatlantic "push forward", a "historic" accomplishment, and an endeavour with beneficial consequences for all Arabs. Speaking of the aims of his Latin American tour, Al-Assad said that he was interested in promoting political and economic cooperation and in meeting with members of the Syrian community abroad. The Syrian government and media played up the visit, speculating on various aspects of potential cooperation with Latin America. In general, Al-Assad called for stronger ties between Arab and Latin American countries. He didn't miss a change to speak of Israel's "terrorism" and "extremism" and resolve "to set off wars, sedition, and trouble in the region". The Syrian president spoke at length about the Judaisation of Jerusalem, the evacuation of Palestinians from their home, the policies of apartheid, the siege of Gaza. He also called for "reinforcing resistance everywhere". Latin America and the Middle East must break free from American influence, Al-Assad said. He called for an end to the unipolar world of today and for the creation of a new world that is free, democratic and peaceful. He added that Arab countries should maintain dialogue with Latin American countries and win them over, so that they don't become indifferent to developments in the Middle East. Playing to his Latin American audience, Al-Assad said that he supported Argentina with regard to the Malvinas, or Falkland Islands. Brazil should have a permanent UN Security Council seat, and Cuba has every reason to resent the blockade that has been imposed on it for half a century, he stated. Trade relations and investment cooperation with Latin America were of crucial importance, the president declared. But he didn't sign any substantial deals during his visit, only protocols and memoranda of cooperation. In all, the Syria delegation signed 19 memoranda of cooperation -- nine with Venezuela, five with Brazil, three with Cuba, and two with Argentina -- covering cooperation in agriculture, tourism, the media, health, culture, and transport. Imparting an Arab dimension to his visit, Al-Assad urged the formation of "strategic" relations between Arab and Latin American countries. The two regions need to "reject foreign dictates and stay independent in their decisions," he said. Some of the leaders of the countries involved visited Syria in the past. President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela went to Syria twice, the last time just a year ago. President Lula da Silva of Brazil stopped by in 2003. And Fidel Castro of Cuba went in 2001. Relations between Syria and Argentina have been minimal so far. Syrian officials and commentators sounded a note of optimism, some claiming that Al-Assad has taken diplomacy from its regional boundaries to a higher level of international appeal. Argentine and Brazil have diplomatic and economic relations with Israel. Venezuela expelled the Israeli ambassador and severed diplomatic relations with Israel in January 2009 to protest the latter's assault on Gaza. Cuba is the only Latin American county that never established diplomatic relations with Israel after the revolution's triumph in 1959. Al-Assad tried to give a human aspect to the visit by saying that the true relations are those among nations, not governments. It is worth noting here that the Lebanese and Syrian communities in Latin America are sizeable enough to influence the outcome of virtually any presidential elections. Some of Latin America's presidents, ministers, and top businessmen have been, or are, of Syrian origins. Syria hasn't been able to improve its economic ties with much closer Arab and European allies, so perhaps Al-Assad is not setting high hopes on so distant a continent when it comes to trade. But this was a chance for him to show that he has friends in a region the Americans consider to be their backyard. He may be also hoping to forge political, if not military, cooperation with some of them. Having been repeatedly rebuffed by the Americans, the Syrian president wanted to give Washington a nudge or two. Washington refuses to cancel economic sanctions, now in place for seven years, on Syria. American officials often describe Syria as a "rogue" state. The Americans haven't sent an ambassador to Syria since the post became vacant five years ago. Damascus is hoping that the Europeans would take note. It wants to let European leaders, who have been wary of close association with Syria, know that Damascus can make friends in Latin America, just as it is doing in Asia. The Syrians are looking to other continents for the support, economic and political, they fail to get from Europe. Their hopes for partnership with Europe were dashed when Europe's terms for the deal became too hard for Al-Assad's government to swallow. The Arabs too are on Al-Assad's mind. The Syrian president wants to show the Arab world that his country matters to other nations around the world. After associating itself with Iran, Turkey, and South Korea, Damascus is trying to find friends in Latin America. Cuba and Venezuela are known to oppose US policies, which makes them an easy choice. As for Brazil and Argentina, the sheer size makes them attractive as potential allies. Syrian officials says that by bringing the Arab "voice" to Latin America, they are building a bridge across the ocean.
