Al-Assad concludes talks with Saudi crown prince
Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on Thursday concluded their talks in a closed-door meeting held at Syria's Tishreen Presidential palace.
Talks between the President and the crown prince started on Wednesday and were made on three separate meetings and that last one continued until early Thursday morning.
Talks covered with matters pertaining to developments on the regional arena and its impact on the Arab sides in the Middle East peace process, the regional situation in the region, matters relating to the Arab status and relations between the Arab states and ways of strengthening Arab cooperation towards defending national Arab issues and confronting withstanding challenges.
SANA said that view points were identical concern matters of concern to Saudi Arabia and Syria as well as the national interests of the Arab states. The President and crown prince Abdullah discussed issues relating to bilateral relations. The two sides expressed joint satisfaction over the current status of bilateral relations and expressed keenness to develop them for the interests of the two sides.
Later on Thursday afternoon, Crown Prince Abdullah left Damascus following a two-day visit to Syria. He was seen off by President Hafez al-Assad and the two vice- Presidents, the deputy premier, the prime minister, the Cabinet ministers and high-ranking officials. The President received a message from the crown prince upon leaving the country in which he said "we are in a world abundant with changes, conflicts and major blocs, where there is no place for the weak ... Regrettably we are a nation that lives on the margin of such a world, a situation which displeases the friend and satisfies the foe, due to our lack of confidence, frankness and credibility." Crown Prince Abdullah added " we have no way but to get rid off such a situation, to abide by our immortal message and equip ourselves with the spirit of cooperation on rightful grounds away from slogans and emotions."
The message added: " We have come to Damascus to tell the whole world that we are peace seekers. A just and comprehensive peace that gives every side its due right. We have come to Damascus, the capital of the ancient civilization of the Ummayads, where we had a glorious past, to voice our solidarity with Syria in backing her to restore every inch of its usurped lands and to have back all her legitimate rights complete. And this is also our very stand with our Palestinian and Lebanese brothers'.
Prince Abdullah concluded as saying addressing President al-Assad: " We ask the Almighty God to keep Syria's might and free under your wise leadership."