Govt-run Palestine broadcaster opens office in Damascus

By Qais Abu Samra</p> <p><br></p> <p>RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – The Palestinian Radio and Television Corporation (PBC) on Monday opened an office in Damascus in a ceremony attended by Palestinian and Syrian regime officials.</p> <p><br></p> <p>The ceremony was attended by PBC General Supervisor Ahmad Assaf; members of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee; members of the Fatah movement’s Central Committee; leaders of other Palestinian political factions; and Palestinian diplomats.</p> <p><br></p> <p>From the Syrian side, the ceremony was attended by representatives of the Syrian Information Ministry and a number of Syrian performers and artists.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Speaking at the ceremony, Assaf voiced hope that the new media office might “serve as a bridge for enhancing Syrian-Palestinian relations”.</p> <p><br></p> <p>“Syria has always supported the Palestinian people and cause; it has never forsaken them,” he said.</p> <p><br></p> <p>The PBC, he added, had already opened offices in several other Arab capitals with a view to “bringing Palestine to the world and bringing the world to Palestine”.</p> <p><br></p> <p>“We want to convey what is happening in the Syrian arena and provide news about our Palestinian brethren in Syria,” he said.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Unlike most other Arab capitals, Palestine never severed ties with Damascus throughout the course of Syria’s almost eight-year-long conflict.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has repeatedly voiced his desire for a peaceful solution to the conflict. </p> <p><br></p> <p>In recent years, Abbas has sent a number of envoys to Damascus to discuss the precarious situation of Palestinian refugees in the war-weary country.