TEHRAN (Iran News) – Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and Syrian President Bashar Assad in a meeting in Damascus underlined the need to activate the joint economic commission between the two countries.
During the meeting in the Syrian capital on Sunday, Amir Abdollahian and President Assad called for broadening of economic cooperation between the two countries through joint economic commission and other existing related mechanisms.
During the meeting, Amir Abdollahian congratulated President Assad on holding a successful presidential election.
The Iranian foreign minister also briefed President Assad on the Iraqi summit in which he attended a day before.
The Syrian president, for his part, thanked Iran’s support for his country and outlined his views on bilateral ties and also cooperation between Tehran and Damascus regarding regional and international issues.
Amir Abdollahian declared on Sunday that Tehran and Damascus are in talks to devise plans to fight against the U.S. sanctions.
“We had very useful talks with my dear brother Mr. Faisal al-Mikdad about expanding and strengthening our relations as much as possible. The two countries are drawing up a plan for the active development of economic and trade cooperation to counter the oppressive sanctions imposed by the enemies,” Amir Abdollahian said in a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Faisal al-Mikdad in Damascus.
“We examined the latest developments in the region. We believe that any political and security arrangements in the region will be achieved with the presence and participation of all the regional states, including the Syrian Arab Republic, and in this direction we consider the role of Iraq and Syria important to help establish new regional arrangements in the political, security and economic fields,” he added.
“The presence of foreign forces in the region will not contribute to the lasting security and stability in this sensitive region,” Amir Abdollahian said.
He added that Iran and Syria have close consultations on developments in Afghanistan and believe that forming an all-inclusive government in Afghanistan is a political solution that should be considered by all parties.
“The Zionists are an important factor in fomenting insecurity in the region. Zionists have held captive the Muslims, Christians and even Jews in the historic land of Palestine,” Amir Abdollahian said.
He described consultations and cooperation among the regional and Muslim states as important in creating sustainable security in the region, and said, “Serious cooperation between the private sector and businessmen of the two countries is one of the issues seriously pursued by both sides during this trip.”
The new Iranian foreign minister arrived in Damascus on Sunday as the second destination of his first diplomatic tour to the region.
