Assad in Greece on First Official Trip to West in 8 Years
Syrian President Hafez Assad, assailed by Western nations for his country’s reputed support of terrorism, arrived Monday in Greece, his first official trip to the West in nearly eight years.
His party was speeded from the airport to an undisclosed location amid tight security.
Officials and diplomats said that Assad will be able to use Greece--a North Atlantic Treaty Organization member with good relations in the Arab world, even among radical states--as a platform to deflect the terrorism accusations.
The officials noted that Assad is returning Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou’s November, 1984, visit to Syria.
They added that Assad will discuss several issues with Greek leaders, including the Iran-Iraq War and arms sales to Syria. He is to meet with Papandreou today and leave for Romania on Wednesday.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
