Political Breakfast with Abdullah al-Dardari

Berlin, February 9, 2007

The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Arab Republic of Syria, Abdullah al-Dardari, spoke about his country’s role as a partner of the West. He analyzed Syria’s status as a regional power and the vital part it could play to help settle the Arab-Israeli conflict. He also discussed the government’s democratic and economic reforms and Syria’s secular character. The West’s policy toward Damascus and the Syrian government’s position toward Israel and Lebanon were likewise subjects of debate.

Mr. al-Dardari spoke with legislators from the Bundestag, representatives from the Foreign Office, Federal Chancellery, and the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and with selected experts.

The Political Breakfast with Abdullah al-Dardari marks a further step in the Körber Foundation’s abiding commitment to the Middle East, which has included Bergedorf Round Tables on and Political Breakfasts with Selim Kuneralp and Hassan Rohani .

The Körber Foundation regularly invites small circles from within Berlin’s foreign policy community to its Background Discussions . As in the larger Bergedorf Round Tables, the discussions take place confidentially.