Al-Shara discusses with Larsen the Israeli escalation

The Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara on Tuesday evening received the UN special co-ordinator in the Middle East Terry Larsen.

Present at the meeting was the director of international conferences and organizations at the foreign ministry Khalil Abu Hadid.

The two sides reviewed the bloody events taking place under the continued Israeli aggressions.

Al-Shara stressed the importance of the role played by the UN in shouldering its responsibilities towards events taking place in the occupied Palestinian territories.

View points were identical on that it is not the right of any side at the UN to blame any Arab side which defends himself against the Israeli occupation forces and resisting these forces by all legitimate means, according to UN charter.

Larsen said that his talks with al-Shara were important and constructive and dealt with issues and causes pertinent to the situation in the region.

He added in statements to the press following the meeting that discussions dealt with the question of the Israeli occupation of the Syrian territories and Israel's new occupation of the Palestinian authority areas, the international legitimacy resolutions 242 and 338 and the land for peace principle.

He added I had, together with al-Shara identical view points and I have stressed the need of self- control and that Syria has recently shown a position which was admired by all in maintaining self- control regarding the aggression.

He remarked that the situation in the Palestinian territories is very difficult and that the Palestinian people suffer in Gaza and the West Bank from great difficulties and that more than half of the population live under the poverty line, noting that efforts are being made to lift this suffering.