Syrian president in Italy

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday started a visit to Italy described as to strengthen "the axis of the good" and "Arab- European relations," in his fourth visit to a western state since he assumed presidency and his first since the incidents of September 11.

Besides issues relating to economic and political relations between Damascus and Rome, the two sides will discuss issues relating to the Arab- Israeli conflict, the Palestinian Intifada and the US campaign against "terrorism " and the threat looming in the skies of the region against Iraq.

Upon his arrival, the Syrian president met with the Italian President Carlo Chambi. President al-Assad will meet later with high ranking economists and businessmen and will be meeting today with the Italian prime minister Silvio Berliskony and with Pope John Paul II tomorrow.

The Syrian president is accompanied by his wife Asmaa and their son ( three month old) besides a delegation composed of 160 members including the minister of foreign affairs Farouk al-Shara, the minister of the economy and foreign trade Ghassan al-Refa, the tourism minister Saadallah Agha al-Qalaa and the minister of culture Najwa Qassab Hassan and several businessmen and businesswomen.

Diplomats said that al-Assad and Berlonskony will sign today cooperation agreements pertaining to investments, the protection of the environment and tourism.