Al-Assad, Gen. Musharraf discuss bilateral ties, regional issues
Syria-Pakistan, Politics, 1/8/2001

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday at the Damascus al-Shaab Palace received the Chief Executive of the Islamic republic of Pakistan General Perves Musharraf.

After the plenary meeting attended by senior officials representing the two sides, a closed door session was held between President Bashar al-Assad and Gen. Musharraf.

Talks dealt with a number of international and regional issues and relations between Syria and Pakistan.

The two sides denounced the attacks being carried out by the Israeli forces against the palestinian people. They reiterated their commitment to resolutions of the international legitimacy, stressing their backing for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and calling on Israel to pull out of all the occupied Palestinian territories.

The two leaders showed their strong desire to consolidate bilateral relations in all walks of life and to work actively and practically to promote economic, trade and scientific ties and to enhance co-operation in developmental areas.

Earlier in the day, Gen Musharraf and his wife accompanied by an official delegation arrived in damascus and were welcomed at Damascus by the Syrian prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro, his wife and high ranking Syrian officials.

Gen. Musharraf is accompanied by an official delegation including the foreign minister Eid al-Sattar, Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdul Razzaq Dawoud, Finance minister Shawkat Aziz, the Privatization Commission Minister Altaf Salim, Minister of Sciences and technology Ata' al-Rahman and technicians and consultants concerned.

Later in the day, Gen. Musharraf and his wife visited the Damascus Umayyad's mosque.

At a speech he delivered at the banquet dinner held in honor of Gen.

Musharraf on Sunday evening he said: " we, in Syria keep in memory and with great appreciation Pakistan's stands in support of Syria and the Arab nation throughout the Arab-Zionist conflict which emanated from israel's aggression against Arab lands. In particular we highly appreciate refusal by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recognize israel or establish relations with it at the expense of the cause of the Arab nation."

The Syrian President added that the Syrian people have followed with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan constantly hoping that the brotherly people of Pakistan may achieve their aspirations to might, prominent regional and international status, progress and prosperity and to be among the best backers and defenders of the causes of the Muslim Ummah, especially the central cause of Muslim and Christian shrines in the " beloved Palestinian land, in the forefront of which al-Quds Asharif.

He continued that threats will never deter " us from struggle to liberate occupied Arab territories, restore Arab rights, and pursue the goal of coveted just and durable peace. We shall never fall prey to false promises, which reveal the opposite of what they hide."

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