Syria's Khaddam returns from Iran

Iranian President Muhammad Khatami on Sunday received Syrian Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam and Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa.

Khaddam conveyed a message from President al-Assad to Khatami. Talks dealt with bilateral relations between Syria and Iran, developments in the region and issues of mutual concern.

Earlier in the day, the Syrian - Iranian higher commission held two rounds of talks chaired by Khaddam and Iranian first deputy Vice-President Hassan Habibi.

In a pre-departure statement before leaving Tehran Khaddam said: "We held rounds of talks that dealt with various issues of concern to the two countries. Our viewpoints were identical on all debated issues."

Commenting on US threats against Iraq, Vice-President Khaddam said: "We have discussed all issues with the Iranian side, and shared similar views. The problem between the US and Iraq is part of the main problems in the region. It has no relationship with 1990 war crisis, rather with the general situation in the region."

Khaddam said that since the first crisis (referring to the first Gulf war between Iraq and Iran), Syria has taken a clear-cut stand calling for preserving Iraq's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and rejected any military act against Iraq.

For his part, Iranian Vice-President Habibi described the Syrian - Iranian talks as positive, noting sahred viewpoints on issues discussed during the meeting of the Syrian - Iranian higher commission.

In reply to a question on the conditional Israeli proposal to implement UN resolution 425, Habibi said resolution 425 calls for Israel's unconditional withdrawal from south Lebanon. "This resolution should not be manipulated Habibi said, adding that this stand complies with the common position advocated by Syria, Lebanon and Iran.