Ahmadinejad believes Israel collapse achievable (2nd Roundup)

Aug 2, 2008, 21:30 GMT

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves to Media before his meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the presidential Palace in Tehran, Iran, 02 August 2008. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday that the collapse of Israel and its Zionist regime was no longer an unachievable aim.

'Today's situation is that neither the return of Palestinians (refugees) nor formation of a Palestinian government and even the collapse of the Zionist regime is an unachievable aim,' Ahmadinejad said, according to Fars news agency.

'The Zionist regime has lost the philosophy of its existence and is no longer capable of implementing the policies of the United States and Europe in the region,' he told visiting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

While referring to Syria's indirect talks with Iran's arch-foe Israel, Ahmadinejad said that 'more joint harmonization could be effective to continue bilateral ties on a suitable basis.'

'Some countries want to create distance between Iran and Syria but they are making a mistake as the two countries will forever stay beside each other,' Ahmadinejad said.

Fars quoted al-Assad as saying that Damascus would 'with seriousness' continue expansion of ties with Tehran and 'there would be no changes in bilateral relations.'

He further said Israel 'was not that strong' and that regional countries could reach their aims through resistance.

Ahmadinejad and al-Assad discussed improved cooperation at the start of a two-day summit in Tehran Saturday, state television network IRIB reported.

The two presidents explored ways to strengthen and expand bilateral and international cooperation 'as a means of maintaining regional stability and security,' IRIB reported.

The two sides also voiced their readiness to increase annual trade from the current 340 million to 640 million dollars.

In a commentary, IRIB TV called Assad's visit to Tehran a clear signal to the West that, despite Syria's indirect talks with Israel, the Tehran-Damascus alliance would continue to exist.

Assad is also to meet on Sunday with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Top of the agenda will be Syria's indirect talks, under Turkish auspices, with Iran's arch-foe Israel, which has irritated Tehran. Assad is expected to defend the talks in his meetings with Iranian officials.

Also on the agenda will be the expansion of bilateral ties and Iran's reassurance that its nuclear projects are only for peaceful purposes.

Israel and the US have urged Syria to end its alliance with Tehran and its support for radical Palestinian factions and Lebanon's Hezbollah opposition group.

Bilateral ties were cemented by a military cooperation agreement signed in 2006.