Invested by order of merit from al-Assad, Shamakhani signs a memorandum of co-operation

The Iranian defense minister, Ali Shamakhani, yesterday concluded a two day visit to Damascus during which he signed a memorandum of understanding in cooperation between the two defense ministries in the two countries and was invested by an order of merit offered by President Bashar al-Assad.

The memorandum of understanding which was signed on the Syrian side by the Syrian defense minister Mustafa Tlass stated to " strengthen cooperation relations in the military, security and defense area.. in line with the excellent political and economic relations existing between the two countries."

In the memorandum of understanding both Syria and Iran " underline the importance of drawing appropriate mechanism to implement bilateral agreements and following them up in all defense fields especially in the area of electronic engineering, training and studies." The two sides also agreed to form a joint follow up committee on military and defense cooperation so as to furnish for firm military bilateral relations and this committee to meet annually in Tehran and Damascus alternatively.

The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad offered the order of Merit to Shamakhani as an appreciation for his services in support of relations between the two countries." Tlass invested Shamakhani with this order of merit.