Doha, (SANA)- President Bashar al-Assad on Friday held a session of talks with the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Kalifa Al Thani, on the latest regional developments and the issues put on the agenda of the Arab summit scheduled to be held in Libya in late March.

During the meeting, the two sides stressed the necessity for good preparation of the Arab summit in order to come up with positive results to boost the Arab –Arab relations, and the Arab joint action ,meeting the aspirations of the Arab people , and serving the Arab issues , in the forefront of which is the Palestinian issue.

President al-Assad and his Highness the Emir , stressed their determination to continue work and to intensify the efforts in order to lift the unjust siege imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities on the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip.

They indicated that the achievement of the Palestinian national reconciliation is inevitable for the success of these efforts , and for ensuring the Palestinian People's legitimate rights to establish their own independent state with Jerusalem as its capital , and the return of all the Palestinian refugees to their motherland Palestine.

President al-Assad was briefed by His Highness Emir Hamad on the mediation efforts being exerted by Qatar for finding a solution to end the conflict in Darfur , and ensuring the unity of Sudan where the President expressed Syria's support to these efforts, wishing that they will be crowned by success soonest possible .

Talks also dealt with the distinguished cooperation relations between Syria and Qatar , and with the two countries leaderships' determination and joint endeavor to push forward these relations to wider horizons realizing the interests of the two brotherly peoples.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem , Presidential Political and Media Advisor Buthaina Shaaban , and the Syrian Ambassador to Qatar, and on the Qatari side attended by Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al Thani.

Earlier, President Bashar al-Assad and Mrs. Asmaa al-Assad attended on Thursday the opening ceremony of ''Doha, Capital of Arab Culture 2010 '' festivity upon an invitation by Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar.

The Emir of Qatar visited Syria last August. Visits between officials of the two countries helped enhance bilateral ties in all fields.

The two countries signed 13 agreements in economic, trade, investment, scientific and cultural fields.

A.N.Idelbi/Manal Ismael/Mazen
From sana.sy