Al-Assad completes talks with President Kutchman, confers with Fares, American churches council
Syria-Regional, Politics, 4/23/2002

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Monday held a meeting at the Tishreen Presidential place with President Leonade Kutchman of Ukraine. It was attended by the Syrian deputy premier and defense minister lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass, the deputy premier for economic affairs, the foreign minister Farouk al- Shara and other Syrian officials concerned. The two Presidents completed their talks which they had started in two earlier meetings. President Kutchman left Damascus later in the day following a three- day visit to the country. He was seen off by President al-Assad and high ranking Syrian officials.

On the other hand President al-Assad received on Monday at the Damascus al-Rawda palace the Lebanese deputy prime minister Issam Fares. Discussions dealt with issues of concern to the two states.

On Monday al-Assad also received at the Damascus al-Shaab palace a delegation representing the national council for the Christ churches in the US. The delegation includes the chairperson of the national council for churches, the secretary general of the national council for churches, the representative of the Eastern Armenian churhc, the assistant director for the international affairs and human rights in the Luther's Anglican Church; arch- bishop of the Assyrian Orthodox Church for Antioch for the Eastern part of the US, deputy chairperson of the Senate churches meetings in the US, a representative for the methodist united church and society and other several representatives for American churches.

President al-Assad talked about the history of Syria's civilization and ancient history which had played a key role in the dissemination of Christianity and the greatness of Islam He said that Syria has been always an example to be followed for coexistence among religions, noting:"we in Syria encourage dialogue in all fields, noting that religion is knowledge, culture and an ideology."

Talking about peace in the region, President al-Assad said that talking about peace will not bring in peace unless reality will be dealt with and the reason behind the violence is addressed. He noted that the only element that can deal with this catastrophic reality in the Middle East is to raise hope within the Palestinians and the Arabs and that the greater force in the word to work decisively to restore back the usurped rights and lands and to establish just peace in the region.

Al-Assad said that the inability of the US to pressure on Israel to withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories has increased tension and damaged to a great extent the image of the US and its position in the region.

Members of the visiting delegation said they could understand from the President the realities of events in the Middle East and they will convey his message on the need to deal with the reality and to abrogate the Western misunderstanding of the reality of the conflict so as all sides concerned will be able to use the true instruments to achieve peace, stability and security in the region.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Shara consultations with Hammoud, Maher, Balkhadem and Moussa on Israeli aggression, Valencia meeting   (4/20/2002)
  Al-Shara gets series of contacts with Arab, foreign counterparts   (4/18/2002)
  Al-Shara talks with Moussa, Hammoud and Kharazi on implementing Beirut's summit decisions   (4/9/2002)

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