National Dialogue Best Solution to Syrian Crisis: Iranian Minister

Tehran (ANTARA/Xinhua-OANA) - Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi called for a national dialogue to solve the crisis in Syria, semi-official Fars news agency reported Saturday. Reiterating the opposition of the Islamic republic against any foreign intervention in the Arab state, Vahidi said that " Intervention by the alien forces in Syria is harmful" to the region as well as the Syrians. He described Syria as the forefront of resistance against Israel, saying that "A country and an army which is in the forefront of campaign against Israel should not be weakened." Iran is the major regional ally of the Syrian government in its conflict against Israel and armed opposition groups. Earlier Saturday, Iranian Minister of Industry, Mines and Commerce Mehdi Qazanfari and Syrian Ambassador to Iran Adnan Mahmoud discussed ways of implementing economic and trade agreements between the two countries, according to Fars. The two sides underlined the importance of investment by the two countries' governments for broadening trade cooperation and facing the West's economic war and sanctions. Earlier this month, Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi visited Iran, when the two countries signed two memorandums of understanding in economic sectors. (*)