Syria Expels 3 Bonn Envoys in Retaliation

Diplomatic repercussions of Syria’s alleged involvement in terrorism continued to reverberate here Friday as the government recalled its ambassador from Bonn and ordered three West German diplomats to leave this country within seven days.

The announcement also said that the West German military attache’s staff here must be cut to the same size as that of Syria’s in Bonn.

A Foreign Ministry statement issued by the Syrian news agency described as “unjustifiable” the action West Germany announced Thursday to reduce the size of Syria’s diplomatic mission in Bonn by a net total of four officials.

The news agency said that Bonn’s move was based on “no objective evidence” against Syria and that Bonn had been dragged “into a campaign of falsehoods and accusations” under pressure from the United States and Britain.

No Mention of Trial

The statement made no mention of the West Berlin trial that ended Wednesday with a conviction of two Jordanian nationals of Palestinian descent for bombing the headquarters of the Arab-German Friendship Society. The Jordanians testified that they obtained the bomb from the Syrian Embassy in East Berlin.

West Berlin authorities also issued an international warrant for the arrest of Col. Haytham Saed, who is reported to be a deputy to the head of Syria’s air force intelligence, Gen. Mohammed Khouli, one of President Hafez Assad’s closest advisers. The convicted Jordanians, Ahmed Nawaf Mansour Hasi and Farouk Salameh, testified that they had dealt with Saed.

Bonn reacted to the convictions by expelling three Syrian diplomats and ordering the Syrian military attache’s office to cut two officers from its staff. One military officer was included among the three expelled diplomats, meaning a reduction by four in the overall staff at the Syria’s Bonn embassy.

Bonn also said that its ambassador here, who finished his assignment earlier this month, would not be immediately replaced and that it was freezing its aid to the Syrian government.

Indefinite Time

Syria’s response included the announcement that Ambassador Shtawi Saifo is being recalled from Bonn and that he would not be replaced “until further notice.” The Syrian news agency said that Willibald Dilger, the West German charge d’affaires, was summoned Friday to the Foreign Ministry and informed of Syria’s decision, which it said was taken despite “keenness about development of relations between the two countries and despite Bonn’s assurances that it reciprocate such keenness.”

Before the expulsions, West Germany had 17 diplomats accredited to Syria, including the ambassador.

Syria’s immediate retaliation against Bonn, coming on a Friday when most government offices are closed for the Muslim holy day, suggested that Damascus is showing no signs of relenting in the ongoing battle with Western nations on the terrorism issue. Syria has stridently denied taking any part in terrorism.

Although Syria since 1979 has been on an official State Department list of countries that allegedly support terrorism, Damascus’ diplomatic difficulties on the terrorism issue began in earnest Oct. 24. That is when a British court convicted a Palestinian of Jordanian nationality of trying to smuggle a bomb aboard an Israeli airliner in London last April with assistance from the Syrian Embassy in London, including the ambassador.

Other Countries Acted

After that conviction, Britain broke diplomatic relations with Damascus. The United States withdrew its ambassador here and is currently reducing the number of diplomats in its Damascus embassy. Canada also recalled its ambassador, and the European Communities adopted limited sanctions against the Damascus government.

While Syria has often been accused of sponsoring terrorism, the British trial was the first instance when “a smoking gun was produced linking Syria to the attacks,” in the words of one Western diplomat.

Syria contends that the London conviction of Nezar Hindawi, who is Hasi’s brother, was part of an Israeli-sponsored plot to blacken Syria’s image abroad.

The end of the British and West Berlin trials do not mean the end of Syria’s embarrassment, however.

Problems Elsewhere

Turkey has indicted a Syrian diplomat for murder for allegedly having taken part in the assassination of a Jordanian Embassy official there. The diplomat, Darwish Baladi, left Turkey on Nov. 19, and his trial in absentia is beginning this week.

In addition, trials are due to open shortly in Spain, Italy and Austria, involving members of the Palestinian movement headed by Sabri Banna, who is also known as Abu Nidal. These trials are likely to lead to further embarrassment to the Syrians, who allow Abu Nidal to operate offices in Damacus and in Syrian-controlled areas of Lebanon.