Al-Assad meets with Burns, stresses Syria's firm position towards peace

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at al-Shaab palace on Thursday received the US under secretary of state for the Middle East affairs William Burns.

The meeting was attended by the Foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and the US ambassador in the US Edward Qattouf.

View points were exchanged on latest developments on the regional and international arenas and means of dealing with the suspended peace process.

The President stressed that Syria has not changed its position towards peace and Israel does not seek peace.

The President also expressed his hope that the US will play a more effective role in order to halt the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

During the meeting the two sides discussed bilateral relations and means of strengthening them and the importance of co-operation and continued dialogue concerning debated issues.

Burns described his talks with President Bashar al-Assad as useful and constructive.

He added in a press conference held on Thursday that these talks dealt with the situation in the region and on the international arenas and the ME peace process, stressing the commitment of the US in her efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East and to help all sides to attain a progress in the pending peace process and to play a key role in this operation.

Burns indicated that talks dealt with bilateral relations between the two countries stressing the commitment of the US to maintain an open dialogue and useful relation with Syria.