Al-Assad receives Solana, regional issues discussed

President Bashar al-Assad received yesterday High Representative for European Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solona and an accompanying delegation.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the situation in the region, the complicated situation in Iraq and the peace plan "Roadmap" between Palestinians and Israelis which is in deadlock.

Both sides called the EU and United Nations to play a role in order to help the Palestinian and Iraqi people get out of their ordeal and to achieve security, stability and peace in the region and the world.

Also, an official session of talks was held between Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and Solana.

Talks during the meeting focused on the latest developments in the region particularly in Iraq and in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Al-Shara stressed that "Israel's intransigence, daily policy of assassination, and collective punishment in addition to ignoring international law are causes of failure of the international efforts exerted to find a solution to the situation in the region."

He called for an active European role to force Israel to abide by international law.

Regarding the bilateral relations between Syria and the European Union, both sides expressed the desire for developing the relations them in all fields.

Both sides underlined the necessity for the continuation of efforts for reach and sign the Syrian-European partnership agreement.