Al-Assad, Ahmadinejad stress deep relations

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Monday wrapped up a 2-day official visit to Iran by a final meeting with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during which they completed talks that started overnight.

In a statement to the press, President al-Assad said "We discussed the bilateral relations during a preliminary meeting yesterday. Iranian Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ali Abdolalizadeh, reviewed the projects that have been carried out since the latest joint committee's meeting in Damascus almost two months ago." He added that "concentration at that time was made on the obstacles raised during the visit to Damascus, but the main aspect of this visit was political due to the political circumstances as well as the latest issues that have emerged since my last visit to Iran 2004... These political issues prevailed our discussions today and yesterday."

For his part, President Ahmadinejad underlined the "deeply-rooted relations" between Syria and Iran, noting that they discussed bilateral and multi-sided issues as well as regional ones. As for the bilateral relations, Ahmadinejad said they discussed cultural, economic and mainly the political issues.

He added that cordial and fraternal atmosphere prevailed discussions. "Our relations are developing more and more and we hope through this visit, paid by His Excellency President Bashar al-Assad, to achieve wide and new steps in this regard," he said.

The Iranian president also underlined that Syria and Iran "play a very important role in the region to establish security and defend its peoples' rights, a matter that requires boosting cooperation and coordination between the two countries." Earlier, President al-Assad discussed with former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami bilateral relations between the two countries. The President and Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharrazi, discussed the latest regional and international developments. Political developments in the region and bilateral relations between the two countries were highlighted by al-Assad and Chairman of the Iranian Expediency Council Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Al-Assad also visited the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. Both sides discussed regional and international developments, coordination between the two countries' stances as well as the existing friendship between Syria and Iran.

Attending the meetings were Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and members of the two official delegations.