Official Visit From Syria

[Lyonnaise]

Syrian Two-Day Official Visit

MADRID, SPAIN: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gestures as his wife Asma and Spanish King Juan Carlos look on in Madrid 01 June 2004. Assad began a two-day official visit to Spain

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his wife Asma, Spanish King Juan Carlos and his wife Sofia

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shakes hands with Spanish King Juan Carlos

Syrian First Lady Asma al-Assad and Spanish King Juan Carlos smile upon their arrival at the royal palace

President Bashar al-Assad, his wife Asma, flanked by Spanish King Juan Carlos and his wife Sofia

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his wife Asma, Spanish King Juan Carlos and his wife Sofia

Syrian First Lady Asma al-Assad and Spanish Queen Sofia

: Syrian First Lady Asma al-Assad and Spanish Queen Sofia

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) is received by Spain's King Juan Carlos I

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Queen Sofia of Spain, Asamaa al-Assad and Spain's King Juan Carlos I

Asmaa al-Assad ©, wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad waves as she is received with her husband by Spain's King Juan Carlos I (L) and Queen Sofia ®

Asmaa al-Assad (L), wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad smiles as she is received by Queen Sofia of Spain

King Juan Carlos I, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his wife Asamaa al-Assad and Queen Sofia of Spain, are recieved by the Spanish Royals

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife are received by the Spanish Royals

King Carlos I of Spain escorts Bashar al-Assad as they follow Asamaa al-Assad and Queen Sofia of Spain

[Bubbette]

Hmm, were they at the wedding?

[xicamaluca]

Caption:
MADRID, SPAIN: King Juan Carlos of Spain (L) chats with Syrian President, Bachar Al-Assad (2nd from L) as Syrian President's wife, Asma (3rd from L) and Queen Sofia smile during the family picture in Oriente's Palace in Madrid, 01 June 2004. AFP PHOTO/ Pierre-Philippe MARCOU (Photo credit should read PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images)

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[Lyonnaise]

King Juan Carlos (L), Queen Sofia of Spain ®, Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma attends the Gala Dinner held in honour of the President Bashar al-Assad and his wife at the Zarzuela Palace on June 1, 2004 in Madrid, Spain.

The Couples

King Juan Carlos of Spain ® and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

King Juan Carlos (L), Queen Sofia of Spain ®, Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma

King Juan Carlos (L), Queen Sofia of Spain ®, Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma

same group

conversing

no doubt talking about Felipe and Letizia

Syrian President, Bashar Al-Assad ® chats with King Juan Carlos of Spain

Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad (3rd from L) shakes hand with Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero as King Juan Carlos of Spain (4th from L) welcomes Zapatero's wife, Sonsoles ® in the presence of al-Assad's wife, Asma (2nd from L) and Queen Sofia (L) during the reception in Oriente's Palace in Madrid

King Juan Carlos of Spain © welcomes Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad (2nd from L) and his wife, Asma (L) in the presence of Queen Sofia ®

King Juan Carlos of Spain ®, Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad (2nd from R), his wife, Asma (3rd from R) and Queen Sofia (4th from R) chat

(i really want to know what the two men are talking about.. they seem so engrossed in the conversation)

arriving at the gala

President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma attends the Gala Dinner in their own honour



Too bad that Feleti couldnt' make it.. silly honeymooners

i like Syrian first lady..she handles herself very well and she projects a smart, simple lady :flower:

[xicamaluca]

Article from World News Network

Spain’s King supports Syria’s modernization efforts

Madrid, June 2, (SANA).
King Juan Carlos of Spain on Tuesday evening reiterated Madrid’s boosting Syria’s efforts of modernization and development and thanked Damascus for solidarity against terror threats.

In a speech during the dinner banquet to honor President Bashar al-Assad’s current visit to Spain, Juan Carlos reconfirmed Spain’s support and standing by Syria to reach goals of modernization and openness on the others through the sustainable development process.

The Spanish King expressed special thanks to Syria’s solidarity with Spain on March 11 terror attacks in Madrid noting that no country is far away from terror threats and urging to work together as to uproot terror and to finally get over terror due to consolidated cooperation.

On the Syria-EU association agreement, the Spanish king stressed his conviction that it would be signed soon to contribute in pushing ahead the process of modernization and reform in Syria.

He noted that Spain has always been defending in front of her European partners to achieve a moderate and balanced accord that could converge Syria to Europe and put the honest and fruitful dialogue pillars in addition to strengthen bases and columns of Barcelona process.

King Juan Carlos pointed out to Spain’s sharing of Syria’s convictions that peace would not be established in the Middle East, but through the realization of a just and comprehensive solutions for questions and the announcement of our positions taking into consideration Syria’s interests.

" Spain has many times repeated the validity and effectiveness of Madrid peace conference and the UN resolutions as a means to arrive at the just and comprehensive peace which we aspire to," King Juan Carlos said.

On Iraq, King Juan Carlos said Iraq’s future should be that of a country enjoying freedom and sovereignty on his land, living in a peaceful coexistence with his neighbors and making his territories integrated.

" Spain is absolutely convinced that the UN has to take tasks and play a central role to attain solutions in Iraq," the King said.

S. Younes.

[Bubbette]

Does Spain support Syria's aid to Al Qaeda, Hizbollah, and other terrorist groups?

[xicamaluca]

Originally posted by Bubbette@Jun 2nd, 2004 - 2:40 pm
Does Spain support Syria's aid to Al Qaeda, Hizbollah, and other terrorist groups?

I belive that the first sentence of the article answers your doubt

King Juan Carlos of Spain on Tuesday evening reiterated Madrid’s boosting Syria’s efforts of modernization and development and thanked Damascus for solidarity against terror threats.

[xicamaluca]

More pics from the syrian visit :flower: (BTW, these are pics from Getty, if you couldn't see them , just refresh the page, normaly works )

Caption:
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 2: : Asmaa al-Assad, wife of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Queen Sofia of Spain (2nd from left) talk to employees of the Spanish Red Cross during their visit on June 2, 2004 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

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pic from the Royal House Website

[xicamaluca]

Caption:
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 2: : Asmaa al-Assad ®, wife of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and their son Hafez and Queen Sofia of Spain visit the city centre on June 2, 2004 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

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[xicamaluca]

Caption:
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 2: : Asmaa al-Assad ®, wife of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and their son Hafez and Queen Sofia of Spain leave a restaurant on June 2, 2004 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

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[Bubbette]

Why did they bring their son on an official visit? HE seems well behaved.