Assad Meets Chavez, Discusses Bilateral Relations and ME Region

Syrian President Bashar Al Assad started his Latin American tour on Thursday, as he landed in Venezuela. On Sunday, Al Assad headed to Cuba, and will be later heading to Brazil, Argentina.

Al Assad's visit comes in attempt to strengthen his country's international relations and bolster political and economic ties.

In Venezuela, Al Assad discussed the Middle Eastern situation, and the "Israeli" occupation and continuous violations with President Hugo Chavez, who on his part described "Israel" as "a genocidal state that acted as an assassin for the United States, assuring that the entity has become a threat to all of us."

Chavez said he supported a peaceful struggle for the return of Golan Heights to Syria saying, "The territory will one day return to the Syrian hands," adding, "Of course we want it to be peaceful because we don't want more war."

He added, "One day the genocidal state of "Israel" will be put into its place, and let's hope that a really democratic state emerges there, with which we can share a path and ideas."

Chavez assured that US attempts to isolate Syria and reshape the Middle East have failed, and "Israel" was fast in losing allies.

He later awarded President Bashar Al Assad a medal saying, "This order is a recognition of all of the effort you have been exerting, not only as a leader of Syria but as a leader in the Arab region and the world, in the ongoing and courageous struggle for freedom of the peoples, peace and for life."

"I am not exaggerating when I say you are one of the new world liberators," Venezuelan president added.

On Sunday, Syrian president arrived to his second stop Cuba, where according to officials; he will meet with the Cuban President Raul Castro to reinforce political and economic ties between the two countries.

Al Assad will be heading to Brazil and Argentina after that.

"In my view, the combined effort of Brazil and Turkey in the Iranian nuclear question has raised Brazil's role to a new level," Al Assad said in an interview published Sunday by Brazil's Estado de S. Paulo newspaper.
"For this, we hope Brazil can act to stabilize the Middle East," he added.