Quote of the week
“Iran’s strength is now regarded as Syrian strength which proves that the two sides enjoy mutual cooperation in all fields.” -Iran’s Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
TEHRAN: Iran and Syria have signed a new defense cooperation pact, Iranian media reported on Wednesday, just a week after news broke that Israel had begun indirect peace talks with Damascus. “The two countries pledge their mutual support regarding territorial independence and integrity in terms of international and regional authorities,” the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported. The accord also called for the withdrawal of ‘foreign and occupation forces, which are the source of insecurity and instability in the region.’ The United States, which has forces in Iraq and several oil-rich Gulf monarchies, has said it hopes the revival of the Israel-Syria peace track could help isolate Iran.
Sources: Agence France Presse (AFP) and Islamic Republic New Agency (IRNA)
