Al-Assad confers with Italian speaker of parliament, US senator

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday evening at the Damascus al-Shaab palace received the speaker of the Italian parliament Pierre Ferdinando Gazini and members of the accompanying delegation.

Discussions dealt with situation in the region and Arab moves and contacts with countries concerned with what is going on in the occupied Arab territories.

The President said that what is going on now in the occupied Palestinian territories is a test to the international community, Europe and the US to prove if they are serious to do something when they have to.

The Italian official commended the results made by President al-Assad's recent visit to Italy.

President al-Assad stressed the importance of continued strengthening of relations between Syria and Italy, especially on the parliament level.

The President also received on Saturday at noon at the Damascus al-Shaab Palace US Senator Arlin Spectre and members of the accompanying delegation. The meeting was attended by the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and the US ambassador in Damascus.

Discussions dealt with the situation in the ME region and other regional and international issues.