Iran call on Syrian president's support to Iraqi government
Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/21/2007

Iran's Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday called on visiting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to support the Iraqi government.

Syria and Iraq resumed diplomatic relations after a quarter of century with a visit to Damascus of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in 2006.

The Supreme Leader said that Iran and Syria are the two strategic allies and that the 28-year friendly relations should further develop.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that consultations between the Iranian and Syrian officials would strengthen the strong pillars of bilateral relations.

The Supreme Leader expressed concern about the difficult and complicated situation in the Middle East and said that the global arrogance led by the US and its allies are the main losers in the controversy in the region.

Citing the chaotic situation in the Middle East, the Supreme Leader said that the US interference in the region has led to nowhere and the US president is being reprimanded by his colleagues in the Republican Party as well.

The Supreme Leader said that the enemies have attempted to unleash religious conflict in both Iraq and Lebanon and advised the Syrian president to support the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and national aspirations of the Lebanese people and at the same time do its best to foil the conspiracy of religious conflict in the regional states.

Ayatollah Khamenei thanked Syria for helping bring closer the Palestinian groups and stop conflict between the Palestinian groups and called for Tehran-Damascus coordination to help resolve regional disputes.

The Supreme Leader recalled the US propaganda campaign against Iran ahead of February 11, the anniversary of culmination of the Islamic Revolution and said that the magnificent turnout on the National Day rallies helped demoralize the enemy.

On his part, President al-Assad said that the US has attempted to weaken resistance of the regional nations to its hegemonic goals.

"But, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria have stood up to the US with reliance upon their own nations," President al-Assad said.

The Syrian president called for cooperation among the regional states to thwart the conspiracy of stirring up religious conflict in the Islamic countries. "I hope that the upcoming visit to Damascus of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki would serve to develop Damascus-Baghdad relations," President al-Assad said.

Al-Assad reaffirmed Syria's support for aspirations of the Lebanese people. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was also present in the meeting.

Meantime, The Damascus radio on Saturday night praised Iranian stand consistent with "fair demands of Arabs." The radio, in its political analysis, pointed to current visit to Iran of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Iran and said Tehran has repeatedly reaffirmed its support for "the just ideals of Arabs and Palestinians in particular." Syria has always strived to reinforce relations between Arab states and Iran, it added.

It said ties between Iran and Syria were a clear example of relations between Islamic and Arab states, showing common interests and solidarity of the Muslim World with the Arab states.

Referring to growing trend of ties between Tehran and Damascus in various fields, the radio said it was the result of firm determination of officials from both sides.

It noted that al-Assad's current visit to Iran is taking place to further strengthen ties between the two countries because exchange of views and adoption of a coordinated stance between Iran and Syria would be necessary with respect to ongoing developments and challenges in the region.

The radio said the visit was simultaneous with an increasing interference of foreigners with domestic affairs of regional states and the threats posed to the the regional states by foreign powers.

It called on regional states to mobilize their forces against the foreign interference and thwart their threats.

Previous Stories:
  Iran, Syria discuss regional issues, Lebanon   (2/4/2007)
  Iranian, Syrian parties cooperation   (1/27/2007)
  Lugar urges US-Iran talks   (11/27/2006)

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