President al-Assad holds discussions with Indian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday held discussions with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Indian Cabinet HQ in Hyderabad.

Mr. Singh welcomed President al-Assad, praising Syria's important role in the region in order to achieve peace and security in the Middle East.

President al-Assad said that India has always been standing by the Arab rights, adding " India could play a more effective role whether in regards to peace or to development in the developing countries… and the whole world should support countries who seek liberation from occupation and hegemony."

The President said Syria has always been standing with peace, and worked and will work to achieve the just and comprehensive peace, but the problem in the last years was the US current Administration which had no interest in launching the peace process.

Mr. Singh welcomed the revival of indirect peace negotiations between Syria and Israel under Turkish mediation, expressing hope that Palestinians reach a national unity and happiness over al-Doah agreement which formed a ground to continue the solution in Lebanon.

He underlined that President al-Assad's visit to India will be a tuning point in boosting bilateral relations in the political, economic and investment fields, expressing his country's readiness to help Syria in the fields of Oil, gas and phosphate.

At the end of the meeting, a number of agreements and memos were signed on encouraging and protecting investment, avoiding double taxation and cooperation in agriculture and related sectors.

Earlier, President al-Assad met at his residence in New Delhi Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Kumar Mukherjee in the presence of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem. "India is a basic player in Asia and the world.. and it is impossible to separate the problem in the Middle East and the problems which face the whole world because they are related to freedom, stability and security," President al-Assad said.

He added that Syria is an important country in the region and it has always contributed to finding solutions to regional issues," expressing hope the Arabs will be able to solve those issues with the help of friendly countries as India.

For his part, Indian Foreign Minister congratulated President al-Assad for the success of the Arab Summit held lately in Damascus, underlining that Syria and India have always been two friendly countries since centuries and President al-Assad's visit to India will give momentum to promote bilateral ties up to a higher level.

He appreciated President al-Assad as being the current President of the Arab Summit, and this will enable Syria and the Arabs to play a role along with South Asia to find solutions to different crisis, particularly because Syria and India have common history and culture.

President al-Assad also received at his residence in New Delhi Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the similar conditions witnessed by the Syrian and Indian peoples in facing colonial powers, stressing that both countries have common interests and there are wide horizons of cooperation in all fields.

President al-Assad and his wife also received Mrs. Sonia Ghandi, the President of the Indian National Congress.

Talks dealt with the latest developments in the Middle East, and the importance of relaizing the just and comprehenive peace in the region, and the role of national parties in defending the fair and just causes of nations.

Presdient al-Assad earlier delivered a speech at a lunch banquet held by the Indian trade and Industry chambers, where he underlined the importance of economic cooperation between the two countries.

The President praised the economic progress and growth achieved in India in the latest years, referring to the steps taken by Syria to improve the investment atmosphere and calling businessmen to explore joint investment opportunities in both countries.
 

President al-Assad meets Indian Minister of Communications

Thursday, June 19, 2008

President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday met the Indian Minister of Communications and Information Technology A.Raja.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the possibility of benefiting from the Indian expertise in the fields of the electronic government services, establishment of governmental data base and developing mail in Syria in a way which guarantees offering the banking and e-services in addition to encouraging investment in the field of information.

" President al-Assad inspected a data technical system through which any citizen in any country could get the information he needs in any specialization," the
Indian Minister said in a statement to SANA following the meeting.

He expressed his country's readiness to discuss the possibility of using the Indian investments in the field of information in Syria.
 

President al-Assad: Syria's stance regarding peace is firm

Thursday, June 19, 2008

President Bashar al-Assad said Thursday that Syria did not change its stance regarding the peace process based on regaining its rights and implementing the UN Security Council resolutions Nos. 242 and 338.

During a meeting with representatives of Indian mass media, His Excellency added: " Syria will know whether Israel is serious in its intentions in the coming period,"

On the relations with the United States of America, His Excellency said that " Syria has always sought to have good relations with the U.S., but this does not mean to build relations with states at the expense of our interests."

Replying a question on the Arab-Arab relations, President al-Assad underlined that, since heading the Arab summit, he is working to achieve Arab solidarity, saying that he is optimistic about future of the Arab relations for the service of the nation causes.

He depicted the talks with Indian officials as "constructive and fruitful" and touched upon bilateral relations and cooperation in information technology sector, phosphate, electricity and the possible role India could play in supporting efforts of peace .

Concerning future of the Middle East the President confirmed that positive changes have occurred in the region that would make the future more promising.

He indicated to the Doha agreement, efforts to reach Peace in the region and to the calming agreement in Gaza which included lifting the blockade imposed on the Strip.

He mentioned that the talks dealt with bilateral relations and increasing volume of trade exchange between Syria and India and the desire to upgrade these relations to the best level to cope with the good political relations.

" This visit comes to renew all political and historical ties between the two countries," President al-Assad concluded, praising India's supportive role for the Arab rights and issues.