Abbas: Syria is a dear and sisterly country

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas stressed when he arrived at Damascus airport Wednesday the significance of the Syria-Palestinian relations.

"Syria means a lot to us," said Abbas in a statement, adding that Syria is a "dear and sisterly state that has a main and important role in the region's peace process."

He pointed out that "talks with the Syrian officials will concentrate on the Palestinian arena and situation in the region in addition to the Syrian-Palestinian bilateral relations and ways of developing them.

For his part, Foreign minister Farouk al-Shara, who received Abbas at the airport, expressed hope that talks between President Bashar al-Assad and Abbas will be successful.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Damascus Wednesday afternoon in a two day visit to hold talks with senior Syrian officials.

Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara met Chairman Abbas at Damascus International airport.