Al-Assad confers with De Villepin

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received on Saturday French Foreign Minister Dominique De Villepin and the accompanying delegation.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the current situations in Iraq and the occupied Palestinian territories, Arab and world efforts exerted to restore the U.N role in Iraq.

President al-Assad asserted that Syria will do her best with the European Union and the world countries to restore the security and stability to Iraq. Syria will do her best to adopt means for Iraqi people to self-determination and means for achieving comprehensive peace that keeps on the land and rights' unity in Iraq, Palestine and the region.

For his part, de Villepin asserted the necessity for reunifying the international community, thus it can achieve the peace in the region through the international legitimacy.

He indicated that Syria plays an important role in the region's future and strategy.

Later, both sides agreed to continue discussions and contacts for the Iraqi and Palestinian interests.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and French Ambassador to Syria Jean Francois Jero.