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DAMASCUS: Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said here on Tuesday that Pakistan enjoys "close and cordial relations" with Syria and important regional and international issues will be coming under discussion with President Hafez Al-Assad during her visit .

Making a 'statement' on her arrival at the Damascus airport, she said these ties are deep rooted and are based on common religion, historical affinity and shared traditions and culture. the Prime Minister said that she was keenly looking forward to exchanging views on important regional and international issues as well as bilateral matters with President Hafez Al-Assad, Prime Minister Mahmoud Al-Zoubi and other Syrian leaders. She said she will be looking forward to "understanding and support" of the Syrian leadership for the Kashmiri cause.

She said Pakistan fully supports Syria's position for a total Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories based on U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.

The Golan Heights is an integral part of Syria which has illegally been annexed by Israel and must be returned to its rightful owners, she emphasised. Earlier, the Prime Ministerwas accorded a warm welcome when she flew in here this afternoon on a 3-day official visit

Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud Al-Zoubi, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq Al-Shara, Pakistan's Ambassador Afzal Akbar Khan, and other high Syrian officials greeted the Pakistani Prime Minister. Asif Ali Zardari, Federal Ministers, businessmen, senior journalists and some high officials accompanied her.

She is visiting Syria for the second time she first visited Syria in May, 1990.-APP