President Bashar al-Assad received Sunday Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al Sudani who began a two-day official visit to Syria. The Iraqi prime minister official was received in an official ceremony at the People's Palace in Damascus. The Prime Minister leads a delegation made up of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Trade Minister Atheer Salman, and Lieutenant General Qais Rahima, Commander of Joint Operations. President al-Assad and the Iraqi prime minister discussed bilateral relations between Syria and Iraq and boosting cooperation in various fields, including trade exchange, transportation, and industry and ongoing coordination on various political issues. Also, joint efforts in the fight against terrorism were addressed. President al-Assad and the Iraqi prime minister stressed that Iraq and Syria standing by each other in various circumstances reflects the fraternal and historical relations that unite the two countries, stressing the continuation of developing these relations at the official and popular levels. President Al-Assad considered that this visit is an opportunity to build an institutional relationship and achieve a great leap in bilateral cooperation between the two countries. While the Iraqi Prime Minister affirmed that Syria has a special place in the hearts of all Iraqis, who are proud of the steadfastness of the Syrian people in the face of the terrorist war. President Bashar al-Assad in a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al Sudani said that 'I welcome the Iraqi Prime Minister on this visit, the importance of which comes from the nature of the deep relationship between the two brotherly peoples.' President al-Assad added that the brotherly Iraq stood by Syria during the terrorist war and rejected all justifications for aggression against it. President al-Assad said that Iraq offered what it could in support of Syria, and the two countries joined in a single battle to confront terrorist organizations. President al-Assad added that 'this visit is important to take practical steps to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in light of the international circumstances and common challenges, especially the fight against terrorism.' President al-Assad: We address the 'relatively positive' Arab situation at the Arab level, and the need to strengthen the inter-Arab relations. President al-Assad underlined that the economic relations will be the focus of subsequent talks, in a way that positively affects both countries and eases the blockade imposed on Syria. For his part, the Iraqi Prime Minister thanked President al-Assad for the invitation to visit Syria, adding that the security and stability of the two countries move for further bilateral coordination to face the common challenges. Al Sudani reiterated Iraqi firm supportive stance towards Syria's unity and sovereignty, stressing that the security of Iraq is the security of Syria. He pointed out to that Iraq works, along with all countries that support stability, on Syria's economic recovery, which serves the interest of Iraq. 'The perpetual coordination between the two countries is the optimal way to face common challenges, especially, terrorism and water shortage,' the Iraqi diplomat went on to say. Al Sudani called for lifting the western coercive measures imposed on Syria, which causes to exacerbate the suffering of the Syrian people, voicing rejection of the Israeli repeated aggressions on the Syrian land.

Source: National News Agency - Lebanon