Message from Al-Assad to Lahoud, conveyed by al-Shara

Lebanon's President Emil Lahoud on Monday at the Lebanese Baabda palace received the Syrian deputy premier and foreign minister Farouk al-Shara. The meeting was attended by the Lebanese foreign minister Mahmoud Hammoud.

Al-Shara handed President Lahoud a message from President al-Assad relating to latest developments of regional and international conditions especially in the Middle East.

The Syrian foreign minister briefed Lahoud with the results of the Sharm Esh Sheikh summit held between President Bashar al-Assad, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and the Saudi Arabia's crown prince Abdullah which was held in the framework of continued consultation and co-ordination between Syria and Lebanon.

Al-Shara arrived in Beirut earlier in the day in an official visit to the Lebanese republic. He was welcomed at the Syrian- Lebanese border by the Lebanese foreign minister. Al-Shara and Hammoud then headed for Baabda palace to meet with President Lahoud.