Syria - Iran Memorandum
DAMASCUS, Apr. 20 (SANA-Official Syrian Press Agency)
http://www.sana-syria.com/english/headlines/20-4/syria-iran-memo.htm

People's Assembly Speaker, Mahmoud al-Abrash and Iran's Shura Council
Speaker, Mehdi Karroubi Yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding.

The memorandum stipulates for developing and enhancing the standing
relations between Syria and Iran, exchanging experts, coordinating stances
in the international and regional political circles and promoting the level
of the economic, commercial and technical cooperation.

The memorandum also stipulates for enhancing the parliamentary relations.

Al-Abrash delivered a speech in which he highly lauded the continuous
development of the Syrian-Iranian relations.
" The current stage with its political developments and security
complexities necessitates a further consultation and coordination towards
what is going on and what is possible to happen ."al-Abrash said.

Al-Abrash underlined that President Bashar al-Assad has been expressing
Syria's true desire and commitment to the just and comprehensive peace which
returns the land and the usurped rights to their legitimate owners, obliges
Israel to commit itself to the international legitimacy resolution
stipulating the full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories
to June, 4, 1967 line.

He also stressed the historical relations linking Syria and Iraq as a two
neighbouring countries affirming Syria's care on Iraq's unity and
territorial integrity through a constitution that expresses the Iraqi people
's will and aspirations.

For his part, Karroubi pointed out to the dangerous challenges are facing
the region nowadays which necessitate a further bilateral cooperation to
foil these challenges.

He stressed Iran's full support to Syria in all the international circles.

Karroubi stressed the importance of the parliamentary cooperation between
Syria and Iran because their identical stances necessitate exploitation of
all capabilities to crystallize the joint goals.

Later, a session of dialogue was held between al-Abrash, Karroubi and
members of the two delegations focused on the parliamentary relations
between Syria and Iran, march of the Parliamentary Unions and Islamic
Councils, the role of woman in the Iranian Shura Council and the political
and general life in Iran.

The dialogue also touched upon the current situation in Iraq and its impacts
on the Palestinian cause, reflections of this situation on the regional
situation, as well as stances towards the so-called the Greater Middle East
project and the Israeli policy of assassinations.

Both sides stressed that Syria and Iran support Palestinian people' strife
to restore their rights and establish an independent state with Jerusalem as
its capital.

They underlined the Iraqi people's right to establish a democratic state and
to manage their affairs by themselves.