Al-Assad confers with Greek foreign minister

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday at the Damascus al-Shaab palace received the Greek foreign minister George Papandreau and members of the accompanying delegation.

The meeting was attended by the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and the Greek ambassador in Damascus.

Current conditions in Afghanistan and the Middle east were reviewed and stress was laid on the importance of the European role in the ME peace.

Discussions also dealt with bilateral relations between the two countries and it was agreed to strengthen them in all fields.

President al-Assad asked Papandreau to convey his greetings and good wishes to the Greek President and prime minister as well as to the " friendly " people of Greece.

During the talks between the two sides, President al-Assad said that Syria's position concerning terrorism is unwavering and that terrorism should be fought every where without selectivity or embarking on double- standard in dealing with it.

The President also stressed that fighting terrorism is a cultural and political work based on building cultural bridges and maintaining dialogue among people because violence will only result in counter violence and that linking terrorism to Islam is a grave work that might lead to clashes among civilizations.

President al-Assad and minister Papandreau held identical views that Europe can play an important role as a bridge between the east and the west.

The two sides also expressed their conviction that comprehensive settlement in the region can be only attainable through the implementation of UN resolutions, the land for peace formula and the Madrid's term of reference and that tension in the region will not be eliminated unless this conflict will be settled on just and durable grounds.

On Sunday afternoon, the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara received Papandreau and members of the accompanying delegation. The meeting was attended by the deputy foreign minister Siba Naser and foreign ministry officials. Discussions dealt with regional and international issues in light of developments that followed the incidents in the US.

Al-Shara stressed the need of fighting terrorism by all its means in the framework of the UN and the need to make a distinction between terrorism and people's legitimate struggle against foreign occupation.

Discussions also dealt with bilateral relations and means of developing them.