Al-Assad confers with Egyptian premier, Arab officials

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Sunday at the Damascus al-Shaab presidential palace received Egypt's prime minister Atif Obeid. The Egyptian minister of information Safwat al-Sharif and Egypt's ambassador in Damascus Muhammad Ahmad Ismael.

The meeting was attended by the prime minister Muhammad Miro, the minister of state for foreign affairs Naser Qaddour and Syria's ambassador to Egypt Youssef al-Ahmad.

The Syrian president was briefed on the content and the course of talks held between the Syrian and Egyptian sides on developing and strengthening relations and cooperation between "the two sisterly states" in various fields.

Talks also dealt with the relations between the two states and the keen desire to developing them and giving them a push forward in all fields so as to cope with the political relations and political cooperation and coordination between the two states.

Meantime Obeid said "al-Assad added that volume of trade exchange between Egypt and Syria does not rise up to the level of the political relationship, nor reflect the important and valued relations binding the two countries and their leaders."

"The Syrian President is keen on achieving coordination with Egypt in the media production field, underlining the importance of putting into effect the already-signed agreements between the two countries as soon as possible," Obeid added.

In other separate meetings President al-Assad received Sunday former Lebanese prime minister Omar Karami who is also a member of the Lebanese parliament and discussed with him conditions in the region and its reflections on the two sisterly states and issued of mutual concern to Syria and Lebanon.

President Bashar al-Assad also received the Palestinian intellectual Azmi Beshara.

Talks dealt with the situation in the region, the bloody events in Palestine, the struggle by the Palestinian people against racism and the oppressive force Israel has embarked on.

Later in the day, President Bashar al-Assad also received the Palestinian renowned poet Samih al-Qasem and discussed with him conditions in Palestine and the struggle mounted by the Palestinian people for their identity and rights.