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Iran presses Assad to follow his father's hardline policies

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, July 26, 2000

NICOSIA -- Iran expects President Bashar Assad to follow the example of his father both in relations with the Islamic republic and the policy of confrontation against Israel.

Arab diplomatic sources said the message was relayed to the 34-year-old new Syrian president during a visit by an envoy of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The envoy, Ali Akbar Velayati, expressed support for Bashar but made it clear that Teheran expects that he follow the hardline policies of the late Hafez Assad.

Velayati also urged Bashar to continue Syrian support for Hizbullah. Hizbullah has declared a temporary ceasefire in the guerrilla campaign against Israel and Khamenei has urged the Shi'ite group to resume attacks.

On Tuesday, Velayati held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk A-Shaara on ways to expand bilateral relations.

Earlier, Bashar told Velayati that he intended to expand Iranian-Syrian relations. Both countries are engaged in strategic cooperation, including development and manufacture of ballistic missiles.

Bashar also said he hoped to visit Iran in the near future, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

In a related development, Assad has welcomed a former chief of staff who fled Syria amid charges of corruption. Arab diplomatic sources said Assad met Gen. Hikmat Shihabi and his son, Hazem on Monday after they returned to Damascus from the U.S. city of Los Angeles.

The sources said the two returned to Damascus on Thursday. They said Shihabi was told that he will not be prosecuted.

In Beirut, the Lebanese A-Safir daily said the government of Syrian Prime Minister Mustafa Miro is expected to resign by Thursday. The newspaper cited the constitution that called for the resignation of the government upon election of a new president.

Wednesday, July 26, 2000

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