Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has
received IMIS leader Faleh Fayyad and stressed the importance of cooperation
between Damascus and Baghdad in confronting common enemies and combating
terrorism, Assad's press office said.
"Events
at the regional and international levels require that Syria and Iraq move
forward in protecting their sovereignty and independence of their
decisions in view of the plans weaved by external enemies
on a divide and wreaking havoc", Assad said as quoted in a
statement.
According to the Syrian president, it is ultimately
up to the people to decide the fate of the region regardless
of the complexity of the challenges it is facing.
Assad also pointed
to the importance of strengthening Syria-Iraq relations
to complete the fight against terrorism and remove various challenges
facing both Damascus and Baghdad, according to the Syrian Foreign
Ministry.
Both Syria and
Iraq are still recovering from devastating wars
against numerous opposition groups and terrorist organisations,
including ISIS. Since Iraq defeated the terrorists
on their territory the country's military has re-established control
over the border with Syria.
Recently, the
countries reportedly announced plans to connect their railway systems. The
aim of the project, reports say, is to provide Baghdad and Tehran
with access to Syrian ports. The project was started even
before the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in 2011.