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

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

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.

The President and his Wife were officially received at the Rashtrapati Bhawan Presidential Palace in New Delhi by Indian President Pratibha PATIL and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Indian and Syrian national anthems were played, then President al-Assad reviewed the Guards of Honor. President al-Assad and his Wife shook hands with Indian senior officials, including Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy and Rural Development, Petroleum and Gas and New Delhi Governor and Wife of Indian Prime Minister.

Indian President PATIL shook hands with the members of the Syrian delegation which consisted of Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, Expatriates Minister Bouthaina Shaaban, Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Hosni Lutfi and Minister of Communications and Technology Imad Sabouni.

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

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.

President al-Assad and DAFG Discuss Bolstering Arab-German Dialogue, Friendship

President Bashar al-Assad discussed on Sunday with a delegation of the German-Arab Friendship Society (DAFG) headed by its President Dr. Otto Wiesheu the Society's role in bolstering dialogue, understanding and friendship between German and Arab peoples and its role in developing economic, cultural and political cooperation between Germany and the Arab Nation.

Talks during the meeting discussed the current boom in Syria, with President al-Assad addressing the delegation's questions regarding the ongoing process of economic development in Syria and the improvement of its investment environment.

Talks also touched upon the latest developments in the Middle East and Syria's pivotal role in finding realistic solutions to the region's problems, with members of the delegation praising Syria's civilization, heritage, values and religious tolerance.

The meeting was attended by Chairman of the Arab and Foreign Affairs Committee at the People's Assembly Suleiman Haddad and the German Ambassador in Damascus Volkmar Wenzel.

In a statement to SANA following the meeting, Dr. Wiesheu described his meeting with President al-Assad as "rich and transparent," adding that the meeting touched upon the peace process in the region, the situation in Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq, in addition to the possibility of cooperation in economy, culture and higher education.

"We have perceived President al-Assad's commitment to establishing peace in the region," Dr. Wiesheu said, stressing Syria's integral role in establishing security and stability and finding solutions to the region's problems.

The DAFG delegation includes the German Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, representatives of German political parties, and a number of businessmen and journalists.

Syria and Romania Sign agreements on investments and avoiding taxation

Syria and Romania on Tuesday signed 3 agreements on encouraging and protecting investments, avoiding double taxation and exempting diplomatic missions in both countries from the additional taxation.

Minister of Finance Mohammad al-Hussein who signed for Syria said the agreements will contribute to raising the level of relations between the two countries in all fields, particularly in trade, companies and investments. 

Romanian Minister of Economy and Finance Varujan Vosganian who signed for Romania underlined that those agreements will lift any obstacles in front of trade and economic cooperation between both countries.

"The agreements will enable both states to maintain best bilateral ties as Romania is considered the first gate for Syria towards the European Union and Syria is Romania's gate into the East," Minister Vosganian added.

Syrian Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Lutfi who attended the signing ceremony said the agreements will found legal base that helps improve investments between the two states, increasing trade exchange and boosting  economic cooperation in all fields.

President al-Assad Reiterates Syria's Stance on Peace

President Bashar al-Assad  on Wednesday reiterated Syria's stance towards peace, based on implementing international legitimacy resolutions that call for the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Arab lands in 1967 and restoring the Arab rights.

During his meeting with Iceland Minister of Foreign Affairs Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, President al-Assad discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and the importance of bolstering them. He also affirmed the need for Palestinian national unity so that the Palestinians can establish their independent state, underlining Syria's efforts in that regard. Talks dealt with the importance of Arab-European dialogue that realizes a better European understanding of the region's problems and finds suitable solutions to them.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, Assistant Foreign Minister Abdulfattah Ammoura, and the delegation accompanying Minister Gisladottir.

Later, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem resumed talks with Minister Gisladottir and the accompanying delegation in the presence of Assistant Foreign Minister Ammoura and Director of the Department of Special Bureaus at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a statement to SANA, Minister Gisladottir described her meeting with President al-Assad as "productive and very good," adding that talks focused on bilateral relations, the regional situation and the peace process.