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Syria's Assad makes first visit to Iran

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, January 25, 2001

NICOSIA — Syrian President Bashar Assad arrives in Teheran on his first visit to his Iranian ally since he succeeded his late father in June.

Iranian sources said Assad flies to Teheran on Wednesday for talks with Iranian President Mohammed Khatami and Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. They said Assad will stay two days in Teheran.

Arab diplomatic sources said the visit could mark a new stage in strategic relations between Damascus and Teheran. Assad's visit to Teheran had been delayed for more than a year amid Syrian peace talks with Israel and his succession as president.

The sources said Iran and Syria have extensive military ties. These include cooperation on missile and nonconventional weapons development as well as support for Hizbullah in Lebanon.

The official Islamic Republic News Agency said Assad will focus his talks on improving bilateral relations and the state of peace talks with Israel. Assad heads a high-level economic and economic delegation.

"Observers give importance to the Syrian president's visit to Iran given the current strategic relations between the two countries," the Iranian news agency said.

Both Iran and Syria have pledged to improve strategic relations. Another issue expected to be raised is Syria's improving ties with Iraq.

The London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat reported on Wednesday that the Iranian leadership is concerned over the resumption of the Iraqi-Syrian oil pipeline, which reportedly has the capacity to transport four million barrels a day. The newspaper said Iran is concerned over the affect of such oil smuggling on world prices.

Another Saudi-owned newspaper, the London-based Al Hayat, said Syria has decided to open an interests section in Baghdad.

Thursday, January 25, 2001


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