Assad says Syria and Iraq have triumphed over terrorism

President Bashar al-Assad on Monday received Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and his accompanying delegation, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

The meeting discussed the latest developments in Syria and Iraq, along with regional and international issues.

President Assad stressed that the victories achieved in combating terrorism in Syria and Iraq are similar because they are fighting the same terrorist groups.

The Syrian President said it is important to upgrade and consolidate the Syrian-Iraqi relations, particularly at the civil level, considering that in spite of the security circumstances of both countries and in spite of all foreign attempts to prevent the development of the bilateral relations, there has always been coordination at different levels and a mutual understanding with regard to what is going on in the region and the world.

For his part, Minister Jaafari pointed out that the regional and international circumstances are trending positively towards what is going on in Syria and Iraq due to the legitimacy of the cause defended by the two brotherly countries.

Jaafari said that Syria possesses a cultural and historical heritage, mixed with their latest triumph over terrorism.

President Assad and Jaafari also discussed the possibility of reopening the Albukamal Crossing for the first time in several years.