President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday discussed with President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pottering the European-Mediterranean relations, importance of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy's initiative to improve European relations with the Mediterranean countries and necessity of work by all these countries to establish peace and security in the Middle East.
Mr. Pottering stressed to President al-Assad that Syria's policy under his Excellency's leadership proved to be correct, adding that the whole world understand now that no peace in the region could be established without Syria.
For his part, President al-Assad told Mr. Pottering that Syria has sought since early 1990's for the establishment of the just and comprehensive peace in our region, stressing that achieving peace needs seriousness by all the sides and serious international sponsorship.
President al-Assad expressed the hope that Europe plays a most important role in the Middle East region and to understand the reality of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the right of the Arabs in their lands and countries as well as the rights of the refugees to return home as guaranteed by the relevant international resolutions.
His Excellency pointed out to the sufferings of the peoples of the region because of the occupation, wars and aggression.
The meeting was attended by the delegation accompanying Mr. Pottering, Speaker of the People's Assembly Dr. Mahmoud al-Abrash, Presidential Advisor for Political and Media Affairs Dr. Butheina Sha'aban, the Syrian Ambassador in Brussels, the French Ambassador and the Ambassador of the European Commission in Damascus. Full Article [Source SANA]