Assad receives communique from Yeltsin on bilateral relations

Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Sunday received Russian Justice Minister Sergey Stepashin, who is also head of the Russian side of the Russian-Syrian joint committee for trade, economic and technical cooperation.

Stepashin delivered a communique from Russian President Boris Yeltsin to President al-Assad. The message dealt with bilateral relations and prospects for their development. Talks at the meeting covered the activities of the Syrian-Russian joint committee.

The Russian minister reviewed the outcome and the agreements reached in Damascus and the joint interest by the two sides in achieving tangible new developments in bilateral ties and cooperation this year and in the future and said

President al-Assad showed satisfaction with this development.

Talks also dealt with conditions in the region, recent developments and the peace process. The Russian minister noted his country's satisfaction with the positive role played by Syria in the peace process and in dealing with various matters in the region on the grounds of peace and international legitimacy resolutions.