PALMYRA, SYRIA: King Juan Carlos of Spain (R) listens to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during their visit to an ancient site in the historic city of Palmyra, 209 kms northeast of Damascus, 21 October 2003. Palmyra is an ancient city in central Syria known also as Tadmur that became of true importance after the Roman control was established in 30 A.D, and after the reign of Queen Zenobia in the third century A.D whom the Romans marched against her to put an end for her ambitions in expanding her Kingdom. King Juan Carlos I urged Syria to conclude a partnership agreement with the European Union to bring Damascus ever closer to Europe. AFP PHOTO/Louai BESHARA (Photo credit should read LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)
