Syrian vice president holds talks with Khatami on ME developments

Iranian President Muhammad Khatami received in Tehran on Monday Syria's Vice - President Abdulhaleem Khaddam.

Khaddam conveyed a message from President Bashar al-Assad to Khatami pertaining the latest developments in the region.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the bilateral relations between the two countries and the important role these relations can play in stabilizing the region and protecting the interests of the two countries.

Both sides reviewed the critical situation in Palestine and the practices being launched by Israelis and the responsibility of the international community to halt these aggression.

Viewpoints were identical over the importance of the national Iraqi unity and the necessity for transferring the authority in Iraq from the occupation authority to UN as a basic step to end the occupation.

Both sides stressed the Iraqi unanimous agreement on rejecting the occupation and on calling for general elections under the umbrella of the UN by which all Iraqis participate to elect a legislative council.

Khatami, for his part, conveyed the vice-president a message to President Bashar al-Assad.

Earlier, a meeting was held between Khaddam and the Iranian First Vice President Vice President Mohammed Riza Aref on means of enhancing and boosting the bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries.

Khaddam arrived in Tehran earlier in the day. He is scheduled to discuss with senior Iranian officials bilateral relations, Iran and the latest development in the region and issues of mutual concern.

In a statement following his arrival, Khaddam said that Syria and Iran are used to discuss issues of mutual concern particularly issues that have pivotal influence on the region. "We face a plight in Iraq and another one in Palestine as well as a campaign of pressures on the region which require exchanging points of views in dealing with these dangerous situations."

Khaddam added that Syria and Iran and all the regional states are involved in removing the Iraqi people's plight particularly the removal of the occupation.

He also stressed Syria's support to the Iraqi people until ending the occupation and building a democratic Iraq and solving the inner disputes and saving the Iraqi unity and integrity.

Iranian Vice President Mohammed Riza Aref stressed the firm ties that connect Syria and Iran particularly regarding the regional issues.

He asserted the importance of consultation and exchanging points of views stressing that points of views are similar regarding the Iraqi issue. He added that the two countries believed in saving the Iraqi unity and integrity and the pivotal role of the UN in establishing an elected government which represent the Iraqi people.

Regarding the Palestinian issue he condemned the Israeli brutal practices against the Palestinian people asserting the need for consultation among Syria, Iran and the states of the region to restore the Palestinian legitimate rights.

Aref also stressed the importance of Khaddam's visit to Iran in strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Khaddam left Damascus today morning to Iran. He is scheduled to convey a message from President Bashar al-Assad to his Iranian counterpart President Muhammad Khatami.

Khaddam is scheduled to hold talks with higher guide of the Islamic revolution of Iran Ayatullah Ali Khamaeni, Iranian President Muhammad Khatami and Chairman of the Iranian Expediency Academy, Hashimi Rafsangani and first Vice President Mohammed Riza Aref.