Qurei expresses pride over Syrian-Palestinian relations

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has stressed the significance of boosting the Palestinian unity at this critical stage.

Receiving Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei on Sunday, President al-Assad was briefed on the latest developments on the Palestinian arena in the light of the Israeli pull out from Gaza Strip and Israeli settlement processes in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the cooperation and coordination relations between the two sides. Syria's Prime Minister Naji Otari and Qurei on Sunday discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip.

Qurei expressed pride in the Syrian-Palestinian relations which are based on "full cooperation and consultation." In a press conference just after the meeting with President al-Assad, Qurei said that he briefed President al-Assad on the whole situation in Gaza strip after the Israeli withdrawal, the ongoing preparations in the strip and the authority's concept of such preparations in addition to the situation in the West Bank.

"Gaza is a part of Palestine, and it will not get rest until the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a capital," Qurei stressed.