Damascus - President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday discussed with Foreign Minister of Georgia Grigol Vashadze the bilateral relations between Syria and Georgia and prospects of developing them , particularly in the economic and tourist fields.
Talks during the meeting dealt with the situation in the Middle East and the Caucasus, where President al-Assad underlined the importance of achieving peace and stability in the two regions for their most vital and strategic importance in the world.
For his part, Minister Vashadze expressed his country's aspiration to develop relations with Syria, hailing its policy towards issues of the region.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, Presidential Political and Media Advisor Bouthaina Shaaban, Assistant Foreign Minister Abdul Fattah Ammoura and Vashadze's accompanying delegation attended the meeting.
In the same context, Foreign Minister al-Moallem met his Georgian counterpart, where a cooperation protocol on holding political consultations between the Syrian and Georgian Foreign Ministries was signed.
In a statement to SANA, al-Moallem said that "Minister Vashadze held a constructive meeting with President al-Assad today during which means of developing bilateral relations and the current situation in the Middle East and the Caucasus regions were reviewed".
Al-Moallem added "We started today the first bilateral agreements between the two countries through the political consultation agreement between the two Foreign Ministries. Later, a cooperation agreement in the tourist field will be signed".
He underlined that various Syrian Ministries will witness soon reciprocal visits to sign bilateral agreements in the economic fields for building constructive and good relations between Syria and Georgia.
The Foreign Minister said that the two countries are determined to build these relations, pointing out that President al-Assad's vision on the establishment of cooperation relations between Syria and the Caucasus countries has been practically achieved through establishing good relations with Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
He expressed hope that the first visit of the Georgian Foreign Minister to Syria will be a prelude for building a firm basis for bilateral relations.
For his part, the Georgian Foreign Minister expressed his country's high appreciation over President al-Assad and Syria's balanced stances towards the Caucasus region.
He said " We held lengthy talks with President al-Assad , who showed keen interest in what is happening in Georgia and the Caucasus region as a whole, and gave us directives to set legal basis to build cooperation relations between the two countries and sign wide-ranging agreements in the near future".
Minister Vashadze added that this protocol and the other agreement due to be signed at the Syrian Tourism Ministry will be followed by economic and financial agreements reflecting Georgia's desire to restore the historical and friendship relations with Syria.
He pointed out that Ministers from both countries will meet twice a year to hold political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries, indicating that his visit to Syria constitutes a start for true partnership between Syria and Georgia.
By H.Zain/ Ghossoun
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2010
