Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held talks on Thursday with a
special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Mideast
issues, mainly the Lebanese, Iraqi and Palestinian
developments.
Alexander Sultanov, also Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister,
conveyed to President Assad a message from Putin on bilateral
relations and situation in the region, according to the official
SANA news agency.
Their talks focused on the situation in Iraq and the necessity
to ensure security and stability there, in addition to means
leading to the resumption of a just and comprehensive peace process
in the region, SANA said.
The two sides also encouraged the Lebanese parties to reach a
national accord and iron out their differences on various
issues.
Sultanov also held a meeting with Foreign Minister Walid al-
Muallem Wednesday evening on regional issues, SANA said on
Thursday.
Muallem underlined the necessity to resume the peace process in
the region according to relevant UN resolutions and the Arab peace
initiative.
On Iraq, Muallem stressed the need to maintain the unity of
Iraq's land and people, saying Syria supported the political
process and timetable of foreign forces' withdrawal.
On the Palestinian issue, Muallem called for a lift of the
unfair siege on the Palestinian people and support to the
Palestinian national unity government to enable the Palestinians to
restore their rights and establish their independent state.
The minister also underscored Syria's support to what all the
Lebanese parties agreed upon.
For his part, Sultanov underlined Syria's role in achieving
security and stability in the region.
He expressed his country's appreciation of the standing
relations with Syria while underlining the interest of the Russian
leadership in boosting and cementing these relations to serve
interests of both peoples.
(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2007)
