Syrian President Bashar Assad received in Damascus Monday visiting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), adding that both leaders reviewed bilateral and regional issues.
"They discussed ways of boosting the bilateral relations in all spheres and other issues of mutual interest," an Egyptian source told the agency.
Egyptian foreign minister Amr Moussa and a number of other ministers accompanied Mubarak on his visit to Syria.
An Egyptian presidential source told AFP earlier in the day that the two Arab leaders intend to carefully plan their positions on the peace process, particularly with the imminent arrival in the US White House of George W. Bush.
Meanwhile, Syrian political analysts told the Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA) that the "meeting between Mubarak and Assad is very important at this time due to the deteriorating situation in the region, and Israel's attitude towards the middle east peace process."
Mubarak asserted Sunday the importance of a Syrian-Egyptian coordination that focuses on Arab principles to reach just and comprehensive peace in the region, said one analyst.
Mubarak, said KUNA, held Israel responsible for the bloody events in the Palestinian occupied territories.
Mubarak's visit to Syria is the first to the country since Assad took power following the death of his father Hafez Assad in July, added KUNA.
Assad visited Cairo at the beginning of October in his first foreign visit since coming to power in July. He attended an emergency Arab summit that was especially held to support the Palestinian Intifada.
Haaretz newspaper reported Sunday that Mubarak and Assad spoke via telephone Saturday night to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East and the renewal of contacts between Israel and the Palestinians -- Albawaba.com
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