Al-Assad meets with French parliamentary delegation

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday at the Damascus al-Shaab palace received the chairman of the foreign relations committee at the French national society and members of the accompanying delegation.

The meeting was attended by the chairman of the People's Assembly Arab and foreign affairs committee and the French ambassador in Damascus.

Discussions dealt with the situation in the region and latest developments in the world. The President said that what happened in the US on September 11 was a result of terrorism and not a beginning for it and therefore what has been dealt with now is terrorism in its ultimate shape, and not the reason behind terrorism." The President also stressed that what is taking place in the region is a result of frustration, regardless to its reasons.

The President explained that Syria and all the Arab states have condemned what happened in the US and that is time now to make a distinction between the state of war and fighting terrorism and cooperation among all sides in the international community in order to start fighting terrorism.

The President also stressed the importance of an active European role, especially a French role in dealing with the situation in the Middle East.

Members of the French delegation thanked the President for his explanations and stress was laid on expanding the dialogue between the two countries's officials amid the current conditions.