(Reuters) The EU wants to sign a trade and aid pact with Syria, but only if it agrees to renounce weapons of mass destruction, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Saturday in Damascus. Diplomats say Syria is keen to finalize the pact to offset U.S. sanctions imposed over its support for anti-Israeli groups, accusations it is doing too little to secure its border with Iraq, and alleged pursuit of unconventional arms. The Europeans contend that engaging Syria would do more to promote economic, political, and human rights reforms.
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