Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Iran, Syria have same views about Iraqi problems - Mottaki

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Damascus, Nov 14, IRNA
Iran-Syria-Mottaki
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here on Monday that Iran and Syria share common views on Iraqi problems.

He said after his meeting with President Bashar al-Assad and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk as-Shara that both Iran and Syria believe in political process and providing Iraqi people with a chance to determine their own fate.

He said that he exchanged views with Syrian officials on the initiatives put forward by Iraq's neighboring states to bring Iraqi crisis to an end through direct involvement of Iraqi people. He did not give details.

Mottaki said that he held fruitful negotiations with Syrian president and foreign minister.

"It was a good opportunity to discuss the latest events in the region and focus on bilateral relations."
He said that he conveyed brotherly message from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Syrian president and acknowledged national resolve to develop relations with Syria.

Mottaki said that he reviewed the facts behind the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.

He said that Syria has exercised cooperation with international committee on inquiry into Hariri's case and that the committee is expected to follow up the case away from political objectives.

"The other subject which was examined was US suspicious provocations in the region. The US is exploiting every event to further its interventionist goals," Mottaki said.

Support for the illegitimate and expansionist goals of the Zionist regime has formed the focal point of US diplomacy in the Middle East, he said.

He said that he would meet Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Otari later in the day to discuss on ways to develop
Tehran-Damascus cooperation.

Mottaki arrived in Damascus on Monday for a one-day visit.

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