Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday that the country's foes cannot damage the existing deep relationship between Tehran and Damascus, apparently referring to the United States which invited Syria to attend a Mideast conference several days ago, the official media reported.
"Enemies cannot damage real and firm Tehran-Damascus relations," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by the state television in a meeting with visiting Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faysal Mekdad.
Mekdad attended Tuesday's international conference on Mideast peace in Annapolis, Maryland, during which the Syrian delegation shook hands with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a rare comportment since the two foes have been accusing each other on Iraq security issue.
Tehran has strongly criticized Arab countries attending the meeting as making concessions to the U.S. and Israel over Palestinian issue, though it didn't directly mention Syria, a firm ally to Iran.
Western Analysts said Syria's attendance and Iran's criticism over the meeting indicated there was slight tension between the two friendly countries on the issue.
According to the official IRNA news agency, Ahmadinejad told Mekdad that "all should be vigilant not to provide any chance for the outgoing U.S. president to obtain any concession from Palestinian nation."
Mekdad, for his part, submitted a written message from Syrian President Bashar Assad and briefed President Ahmadinejad on the Annapolis conference.
Nearly 50 countries and organizations participated the gathering in Annapolis aimed at helping resume the stalled Mideast peace talks. Israeli and Palestinian leaders met and negotiated how to live in peace with each other.
Besides Ahmadinejad, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has urged the Muslim countries to boycott the conference, accusing Washington of trying to save Israel and to hurt the Palestinians.
Source: Xinhua
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