President al-Assad Receives Letter from Emir of Kuwait on Bilateral Relations

President Bashar al-Assad received on Tuesday a letter from Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah on bilateral relations and means of developing them, and an invitation to President al-Assad to visit Kuwait.

 President al-Assad Discusses with Erdogan Situation on the Iraqi arena and Peace in the Middle East

President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday received a telephone call from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during which they discussed the situation on the Iraqi arena and issue of peace in the Middle East.

The telephone call also dealt with bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and issues of mutual concern.

Presidents al-Assad and Saleh Discuss Situation on the Arab and regional arenas

President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday received a telephone call from his Yemeni counterpart President Ali Abdullah Saleh on which they discussed the forthcoming meeting of the Syrian-Yemeni Higher Joint Committee and the situation on the Arab and regional arenas.

On the phone call, President al-Assad condemned the terrorist acts which Yemen is being exposed to, asserting Syria's support to Yemen against these acts.

 Al-Mikdad, Van Eenennaam Discuss Cooperation between Syria and UNHCR

Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Fayssal al-Mikdad discussed on Wednesday with Chairman of the Executive Committee at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Boudewijn van Eenennaam cooperation between Syria and the UNHCR and means for developing it, particularly regarding Iraqi refugees.

Eenennaam expressed appreciation of Syria's efforts for alleviating the suffering of Iraqi refugees, stressing the need for pooling the efforts of the international community and donor countries to handle the problems of Iraqi refugees and provide support for the Syrian government's work for helping refugees. For his part, Dr. al-Mikdad pointed out that related international and regional organizations haven't fulfilled their responsibilities in providing support to Iraqi refugees, whose suffering is increasing due to the price increase phenomena affecting the region and the entire world.

Dr. al-Mikdad reviewed Syria's contributions and efforts for providing a decent life to Iraqi refugees, expressing Syria's readiness to work with donor countries to provide optimal living condition to Iraqis in Syria until they return to their homeland.

Syria's Delegate in Geneva Underlines the Arab Countries True Intention with Regard to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Syria's Permanent delegate in Geneva, Fayssal Hamwi, has underlined that the Arab countries have proven their good intention and commitment to the targets of the international system regarding the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In a statement delivered yesterdayon behalf of the Arab group at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Conference , Hamwi reminded the conferees with the important decision which was issued in 1995 by the treaty general conference and includes turning the Middle East into a zone free of nuclear weapons.

He warned against the danger of keeping silent regarding Israel which is no longer hiding the possession of nuclear arms.

Syrian-Turkish Economic Forum Concludes in Damascus

The Syrian-Turkish Economic Forum on Sunday concluded its meetings in Damascus with a session attended by several Syrian Ministers and Turkish Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs Korsad Tuzman. Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari said in his interposition that the Forum had helped advance the economic ties between Syria and Turkey and coincided with the underway economic reform programs in Syria.

He added that the Syrian-Turkish relations serve the interests of the two countries, calling on businessmen from both sides to go into strategic partnership.

Minister of Economy and Trade Dr. Amer Hosni Lutfi stressed importance of joint action to form the basis of economic trade bloc that match up with the current blocs in the world.

Minister of Housing and Construction Hammoud al-Hussein said the Syrian-Turkish cooperation would reflect positively in the sector architecture, city building and treatment plants.

Minister of Transport Dr. Ya'aroub Bard briefed the participants on the status of transport and the future of cooperation in this field.

Turkish Minister Tuzman stressed that the distinguished Syrian-Turkish relations would allow further advancement in the fields of trade and investment between the two countries and with the rest of the world.

He expressed hope that the volume of trade exchange between Syria and Turkey would increase to USD 5 billion over the next few years.

Chairman of the Syrian Chambers of Commerce Dr. Rateb al-Shallah, who headed the final session, expressed hop that both countries would reach strategic partnership that groups together the available capabilities and qualifications for the interests of the two countries.