Al-Shara confers win New York with Vedrine, Kharazi, Larsen, Solana

The Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara on Tuesday continued his meetings and contacts in New York. On Tuesday morning al-Shara met with the French foreign minister Hubert vedrine in the presence of the Syrian delegation charge de affairs to the UN Faisal Miqdad, the French foreign ministry spokesman and the advisor for the French Foreign minister.

Talks dealt with latest developments and regional and international issues especially the situation in Afghanistan Al-Shara also met with the Iranian peer Kamal Kharazi in the presence of officials concerned representing the two sides. Discussions dealt with latest developments in the region, developments in Afghanistan and issues of concern to both Syria and Iran.

The Syrian foreign minister also met with the UN secretary general special envoy to the ME peace Terry Larsen and discussions dealt with the role played by the UN and its responsibilities in implementing resolutions pertinent to the Palestinian question and the situation in the region.

Al-Shara also met with the EU higher commissioner general for the foreign policy affairs and defense Javier Solana and reviewed with him the importance of an active role by the EU in eliminating tension in the region and means of reviving the ME peace process.

Earlier in the morning the Arab foreign ministers held their coordination annual conference at the headquarters of the UN in the presence of al-Shara.

They discussed items debated on the agenda of their meeting and stressed the need of revitalizing inter-Arab coordination in confrontation of attempts aiming at linking terrorism to Arabs and Muslims and the importance of making clear- cut distinction between terrorism and legitimate resistance against foreign occupation.