AFP: Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki flew to Syria Thursday on an unannounced visit, and immediately went into a meeting with President Bashar al-Assad, a Syrian oficial said. DAMASCUS, May 18, 2006 (AFP) – Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki flew to Syria Thursday on an unannounced visit, and immediately went into a meeting with President Bashar al-Assad, a Syrian oficial said.
His visit was prompted by “developments in the region which require talks” between Iran and Syria, Mottaki said on arrival at Damascus airport, where he was welcomed by his Syrian counterpart, Walid al-Muallem.
There was no mention of the current international pressure on Syria to recognise the sovereignty of Lebanon. This culminated in a United Nations Security Council resolution on Wednesday calling on Damascus to establish formal diplomatic relations with Beirut and to demarcate their border. This prompted Damascus to claim interference it its affairs.
Mottaki arrived from Jordan, and will hold a press conference before returning to Iran.
