Al-Assad meets Mandella in Damascus

Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandella arrived on Sunday night in Damascus. He was welcomed at the Damascus airport by President Hafez al-Assad, as well high ranking Syrian officials.

The two presidents exchanged compliments where at the Tishreen Presidential palace President Mandella said " It please me to be with a very well-known and famous President. During my life, I have not met with this great number of pressmen. I think this is due to President al-Assad's great fame."

For his part, President al-Assad said " all of you know who is President Nelson Mandella. No body in the world does not know him. He did many great things and of course he paid the price ( being in prison for 20 years). But all people wish to be as he was."

President al-Assad held a meeting with President Mandella which was attended by the two vice Presidents Abdul Halim Khaddam and Zuheir Mashraqa, and a number of regional and international topics and relations between Syria and South Africa,

President Mandella expressed appreciation for Syria's policy and the great role played by President al-Assad in the Arab world and the region as a whole.

Al-Assad commended Mandella's militant history of relentless struggle and his backing for the Arab states and world's causes.

Al-Assad held a dinner banquet in honour of President Mandella. It was attended by high ranking Syrian officials.