Doaa El-Bey reports on efforts to ease Egyptian-Syrian relations Egypt's Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman's two-day visit to Syria early this week is seen by many as an attempt to ease the strains that have recently plagued relations between the two countries. During his visit to Damascus Suleiman is reported to have conveyed a message from President Mubarak to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. "Suleiman's visit is a clear indication that Syrian-Egyptian relations are about to move into a more positive phase and officials on both sides are keen to close the recent chapter of difference," says Syrian political analyst Hassan Abdel-Azim. "As President Assad has pointed out, differences between states in their approach to policy should not be allowed to negatively affect bilateral relations." Suleiman's visit follows a number of gestures that analysts say suggest a thaw in relations is well on its way. Last month a senior Syrian official delivered a letter from President Assad to President Mubarak. And in a recent interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anbaa Syria's president took the opportunity to underline the importance Syria attaches to maintaining strong ties with both Egypt and Saudi Arabia. For his part President Mubarak warned against placing pressure on Damascus following his recent meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Maintaining Syrian security, he said, was a major Egyptian concern. Relations between the two countries reached a nadir following a speech delivered in Damascus by President Assad in which he criticised the positions of Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia towards Israeli attacks on Lebanon in July. Suleiman also met with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in an attempt to push forward the formation of a Palestinian government of National Unity and, it is thought, discuss a possible swap of Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of a captured Israeli soldier. Fatah- Hamas talks over forming a new government have reached a deadlock over Hamas's refusal to recognise the state of Israel. Abdel-Azim believes closer coordination between Egypt and Syria will boost the chances of a unity government being formed. "Syria has a very positive relation with some of the Palestinian factions, including Hamas and the Popular and Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, while Egypt has strong ties with Fatah and other Palestinian factions. The two states can work together on reducing the differences between Fatah and Hamas," he says. Suleiman's visit also seems to be aimed at reassuring Syria that Rice's recent meeting with Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf Cooperation Council members -- Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the UAE -- does not represent an attempt to isolate Syria or establish a coalition against Syria and Iran. Arab states, says Abdel-Azim, must resist any attempts by Washington to further its regional agenda by adopting a policy of divide and rule in the Middle East. "Arab states must show a united front on implementing the peace process. Unity must top all our agendas if we are to successfully pursue our mutual interests and prevent the US from involving Arab countries in its conflict with Iran." In a related development Farouk Kaddoumi, head of the PLO's political wing, met with President Assad and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem. Following the meeting Assad declared that Damascus would support all Palestinian efforts to establish a government of national unity. All the signs are that Syria is now willing to play a more active role, mediating alongside Egypt and other Arab states as they try to push forward a unifying Palestinian agenda. If Suleiman's visit is to lead to a wholesale thaw in Syrian- Egyptian relations, though, it will need to be followed up by other positive gestures.
