Iraqi President Jalal Talabani arrived in Damascus Sunday for talks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad on ways of boosting cooperation between the two counties to end the continuing violence in Iraq, according to Deutsche Presse Agentur dpa. Assad welcomed Talabani at an official reception at the presidential palace and the two went into talks immediately, Syrian media reported. Syria's official news agency SANA reported that the talks focused on "bilateral relations on all levels" and both sides stressed "their keenness on strengthening relations" between the two neighbours. President Assad "showed Syria's readiness to help Iraq's achieve national reconciliation and achieve the unity, safety and stability of Iraq," SANA said. Talabani hailed Syria for standing by Iraq and its willingness to help, the agency reported. Both leaders agreed to "continued consultations and coordinadion concerning issues of mutual interest," the agency said. Talks were expected to focus on security in Iraq and it was hoped that Syria would be offered a chance to end its isolation, the Syrian Times reported.
