Chirac, al-Assad review current situation in ME region

Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Monday received a telephone call from French President Jacques Chirac during which the two Presidents discussed the situation in the region and the Iraqi crisis.

Chirac briefed Assad on the contents of the talks he held with the UN chief Kofi Annan and on the arrangement reached between the UN and the Iraqi government. The French President said France supports this accord, brokered following Annan's negotiations with the Iraqi government.

He praised the efforts exerted by the states which have called for settling the crisis through diplomatic means in order to avert military operations. President Chirac expressed France's point of view that there is no need to speak about military operations from now on.

President Assad's response was: "It is natural that the accord reached by the two sides will close the door before military possibilities."