Mar 12, 2007, 18:27 GMT
Damascus - Iraqi Vice Premier Salam Zawbaai on a visit to Syria Monday applauded Saturday's meeting in Baghdad which had brought Syria, Iran and the US to the same negotiating table as a 'good step' towards security and stability in Iraq.
On his arrival at Damascus international airport, Zawbaai told reporters that 'the presence of Syria, Iran and the US in the same place' was of 'great importance' for the solution of complex issues and for the correction of certain views.
It was also important in relation to neighbouring countries' 'contribution to security in Iraq.' He said the Iraqi government was expecting a lot from the conference.
The Iraqi vice premier said that his visit to Damascus aimed at boosting bilateral relations, and that Iraq needed help from all over the world as well as from its neighbours to get out of its plight.
On the issue of Syria's efforts to control its border with Iraq, the Iraqi official said that terror was crossing into Iraq from 'all borders,' not only from the Syrian side, adding that he felt Damascus was doing its duty in this regard.
In a meeting with Zawbaai, the Syrian Premier Naji Ottari reiterated Syria's support for reconciliation efforts in Iraq and for 'the phased withdrawal of occupation forces,' Syria's official news agency SANA said.
According to SANA, Ottari and Zawbaai reviewed bilateral relations between Syria and Iraq, discussed how to develop them further and signed agreements between the neighbouring countries.
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