President Bashar al-Assad concludes successful visit to Iran

President Bashar al-Assad returned on Thursday back home concluding a successful visit to Iran in two meetings with the spiritual guidance of the Islamic revolution Ayatullah Ali Khameini and President Muhammad Khatami.

Khameini welcomed President al-Assad warmly and commended Syria's "wise stances."

He stressed Iran's backing to unwavering support for the Arab rights and causes and stressed the return of the Golan. He condemned Israel's brutal aggressions against the Palestinian people and called on the Arab and Muslim states to support the Palestinians.

President al-Assad and President Khatami completed the Syrian- Iranian talks on conditions in the region and their developments. The two presidents strongly denounced Israel's aggressions and called for developing positive relations between the countries of the region and to deal with negative relations among them and convert such relations into a positive element. The two Presidents also expressed their satisfaction over the development of relations between Iran and Syria and the joint desire to develop them in all fields.

During his visit to Iran, President al-Assad visited the tomb of the late Iranian Imam al-Khumeini, where he laid a wreath. The President was accompanied in his visit to Iran by vice- President Abdul Halim Khaddam, the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara ' and Syrian officials concerned.