Al-Assad gets a message from the ruler of Bahrain

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Monday at the Damascus al-Shaab palace received Bahrain's crown prince Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad al-Khaleifa and members of the accompanying delegation.

The meeting was attended by Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam, the minister of higher education Hassan Resheh who is also the chairman of the honorary mission, and the ambassador of Bahrain in Damascus Wahid Mubarak al-Sayyar.

Al-Assad got a written message from the ruler of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa relating to bilateral relations between the "two sisterly" states.

Discussions dealt with latest developments at the regional and international levels and the need of intensifying inter- Arab contacts in order to revitalize Arab solidarity and taking a united position towards basic issues of concern to the Arab nation.

Al-Assad held a luncheon banquet in honor of Sheikh Salman, attended by Khaddam and Resheh and members of the delegation accompanying Sheikh Salman.

Bahrain's crown prince arrived in Damascus on Monday in an official visit which lasts for two days, he was officially welcomed by Khaddam, Resheh and by the ambassador of Bahrain in Damascus. He was also welcomed by the Gulf states' ambassadors in Damascus.

The Bahraini crown prince is accompanied by the minister of state for municipalities and the environment Jawad Bin Salem al-Areidi, and chairman of the board of several investment companies in Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Ibrahim al-Khaleifa, the secretary of the ministry of finance and the economy and other high ranking Bahraini officials.