Syrian- Iranian summit in Tehran

The developments of conditions in the Middle East region, a number of regional and international issues and matters of common interest were all discussed in a round of talks held in Tehran on Wednesday between President Bashar al-Assad and his Iranian counterpart Muhammad Khatami.

The two presidents also discussed bilateral ties and ways of enhancing them in different domains.Later, another round of talks was held between Presidents Bashar al-Assad and Khatami. It was attended by senior officials representing the two sides..

The Iranian President reiterated Iran's keenness on expanding these relations to serve the common interests of the two countries.

The Iranian President commended Syria's stances against " the Zionist- colonialist schemes and the policies pursued under the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad in defense of the just Arab causes." The Syrian President made clear that developed ties had deep roots in the policy and objectives of the two friendly countries in their common struggle mounted to serve the rights of the region's peoples and to confront all forms of aggression and conspiracies targeting the Arab and Muslim worlds.

Meanwhile, the two sides discussed a number of regional and international issues, challenging facing the two countries, tension and instability which prevail in the region due "to continued Israeli threats to the region's countries." They also discussed "Israel's barbaric aggressive practices against the Palestinian people, its violation of the Islamic and Christian holy places and disregard of the international legitimacy resolutions and the Palestinian Arab people's rights."

Both sides confirmed the need of the full restoration of the occupied Syrian Golan heights up to June 4, 1967 border lines and all occupied Arab territories. They praised the victory of the Lebanese national resistance forces in forcing the Israeli forces from withdrawing from South Lebanon, stressing the importance of the Syrian- Lebanese cohesion and unity of tracks in the face of all forms of Israeli aggression and threats.

They called for supporting the Palestinian people and heroic Intifada and stressed continued coordination and cooperation between the two countries in all area.

President al-Assad arrived in Tehran earlier in the day, accompanied by vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam, the foreign minister farouk al-Shara and other Syrian officials concerned.