Al-Assad meets Gul

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received yesterday Turkish Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and an accompanying delegation.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and the Turkish Ambassador in Damascus Ahmad Ugoz Schelicol.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the repercussions of war against Iraq on the region in general.

Talks also dealt with the situation in the region including the situation in the Palestinian territories. The two sides agreed on boosting cooperation between the two countries for the interest of them.

In a statement to reporters upon arrival in Damscus, Gul underlined the importance of the standing friendly bilateral relations, indicating that his visit would contribute to the further development of the political, economic, and touristic relations. He added that Syria and Turkey are friendly countries which enjoy importance in the region, stressing the necessity for inter-cooperation among the countries of the region in the light of the current developments at this stage.

He pointed out that what is needed in the region is cooperation for the establishment of peace and stability, because the region has suffered for many years and the time has come to boost cooperation and utilization of the regional resources which would contribute to a peaceful atmosphere of cooperation.