Al-Assad receives a message from Iranian counterpart

President Hafez al-Assad on Sunday received a message from President Muhammad Khatami of Iran. The message was handed over by the Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazzi.

In the meeting, held at al-Shaab palace in Damascus, President al-Assad reviewed with Kharazzi the latest developments in the region and Lebanon, as well as cooperation relations between the two countries for the interest of the peoples of the region and their rights.

The two sides expressed the support for Lebanon's just demands.

The meeting was attended by the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara" Earlier in the day, al-Shara ' and Kharazzi discussed developments in the region.

He two ministers also expressed the support of both Syria and Iran for Lebanon's demands to Shebaa farms.

The two ministers highly appreciated the great victory of the Lebanese national resistance over the Israeli occupation as well as the steadfastness of the Lebanese people.

The Syrian foreign minister and his Iranian counterpart discussed the future of the peace process and Syria's adherence to its unwavering and principled stances to achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region, based on the UN resolutions and the land for peace formula.

The two ministers condemned Israel's non- commitment to implement the UN resolutions concerning the Arab- Israeli conflict.

Earlier in the day, the Iranian foreign minister had arrived in Damascus on Sunday afternoon.

In an arrival statement to pressmen, Kharazzi said developments in the region, particularly the great victory of the Lebanese national resistance and people reflected in the liberation of South Lebanon and the defeat of the Israeli forces, require exchanging views with our brothers in Syria and congratulating Syria's senior officials on this victory.

He continued: " together with our brother in Syria, we have strongly supported the Lebanese resistance."

Kharazzi indicated to the responsibility of all the Islamic states to rebuild what Israel destroyed in South Lebanon.

He said that in his capacity as chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, President Muhammad Khatami sent messages to all leaders and Kings of the Islamic states, urging them to do their Islamic task of re-building south Lebanon.

He indicated that though Israel withdrew from Lebanon it continues making threats.