Al-Assad confers with Patten on relations, ME conditions

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received on Tuesday the European Union commissioner for foreign political affairs, Chris Patten and an accompanying delegation.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the Syrian-European partnership negotiations. President al-Assad stressed Syria's efforts to overcome the obstacles facing the conclusion of the partnership agreement.

Talks also dealt with the latest developments in Iraq and in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The necessity for an integrated vision for solving these situation with taking into consideration the political and popular situation in the region in reaching a just and comprehensive peace were asserted during the meeting.

Present at the meeting were Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and Ambassador of the European Commission to Damascus, Frank Heske.