Renowned Heart surgeon Christian Bernard in Syria

Renowned heart surgeon Christian Bernard of South Africa, who in 1967 carried out the first heart implant operation is currently visiting Syria, taking part in a medical conference in Damascus.

In a statement he made to reporters, Bernard said, "I am happy to have my first visit to Syria." He has also visited Lebanon, Jordan and Iran.

Bernard, 76, is taking part in a three-day conference that opened in Damascus, under the patronage of the Syrian President al-Assad on Sunday. On the sideline of the conference, the Bassel Heart Institute, named after the late son of President al-Assad, was inaugurated on Sunday in the Dummar district of Damascus, and the Bassel Friends' Cardiac Symposium was opened.

The three-day conference includes nine scientific sessions in which 50 lectures will be read.

Guests of the symposium come from 12 countries from Austria, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Lebanon, Portugal Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UK, and the USA, and the host country, Syria.