President al-Assad Visit to Iran
President Bashar al-Assad and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday evening held a meeting in the presence of both countries’ official delegations.
Later, the two presidents held bilateral meeting where President Assad congratulated President Ahmadinejad on taking over his high post, wishing him success.
Talks during the meeting dealt with the bilateral relations between Syria and Iran and means of boosting and developing them in all fields, where both sides reviewed outcomes of the joint Syrian-Iranian Higher Committee’s meetings, expressing satisfaction over these outcomes.
They underlined the importance of deepening those relations in the economic, trade and investment domains in the interest of the two brotherly countries.
Presidents al-Assad and Ahmadinejad discussed the regional and international developments in addition to the latest developments on the Palestinian and Iraqi arenas, terrorism and fighting it, as well as the stalled peace process in the region.
Viewpoints were identical on issues discussed, where both presidents stressed commitment to help the Iraqi people preserve territorial integrity, achieve security and stability in Iraq .
The two sides underlined support to the underway political process in Iraq with participation of all Iraqi people to run their own affairs and restore Iraq sovereignty.
Both presidents also showed support to the Palestinian people to restore legitimate right to return HOME, independence and establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
The two sides agreed to continue coordination and consultation between both friendly countries.
Later on, Syrian-Iranian relations are deep-rooted and developing and Syria is one of the steadfast, struggling and resisting countries in the Arab and Islamic worlds as well, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday.
“President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian nation are on the vanguard of defending the Islamic Ummah,” Ahmadinejad told reporters, stressing that common threats to Iran and Syria require joint cooperation from the two countries more than ever.
As for Iran and Syria’s role for the region’s future, Ahmadinejad said “they have an important and decisive role”.
“The Iranians consider Syria’s issues as theirs, and we believe that Syrians feelings are mutual,” he underlined, adding that relations between the two friendly countries have a great value particularly when lots of the two countries enemies are attempting to weaken these ties.
The Iranian president showed great hospitality when receiving president Assad, saying “it is my pleasure to meet president Bashar al-Assad who is a friend and advocator for Iran and the Iranian people as well”.
He concluded by stressing the importance of exchanging visits between officials from both countries, indicating that communication is in the benefit of Syria, Iran and the region.
Meantime, President Bashar al-Assad said on Sunday that he will discuss with high ranking Iranian officials a number of considerable issues due the circumstances surrounding the region as well as the world.
“ Some of those issues have become traditional, but their daily details are renewable and rich, on top of them is the Iraqi issue and the deteriorated political situation we are witnessing there,” The President said answering the journalists questions.
The President pointed out at the cultural, economic and social declines that Iraq has been witnessing as well as their influence on the neighboring countries including Syria and Iran .
“We will hold consultations on terrorism which has been expanding in the Middle East , and we will touch upon the peace process in the region which is paralyzed and stopped long time ago,” President Assad said.
He mentioned that peace and stability in the region are important for Iran and Syria , noting “our negotiations with the Iranian officials aim to find practical ways to attain better situation”.
"Our national interests and principles are not separate from that of the other regional states. We should reach a common view as two key states of the region in a way that serves interest of all the other neighboring states," President al-Assad said.
He offered felicitation to President Ahmadinjad on wining national trust of the Iranians saying: “ I am so pleasant to be again in the friendly country of Iran and meet President Ahmadinjad at the beginning of his term of office”.
During the second day of the visit, President Assad and his Iranian Counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held a final meeting during which they completed talks that began overnight.
His Excellency also discussed with Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.
In an earlier meeting, the President and Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi discussed the latest regional and international developments.
Political developments in the region and bilateral relations between the two countries were highlighted by President Assad and Chairman of the Iranian Expediency Council Hashemi Rafsanjani.
His Excellency also visited Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. Both sides discussed regional and international developments, coordination between the two countries’ stances as well as the existing friendship between Syria and Iran.
Tehran , Aug 7-8-2005 ( SANA )