Syria 'pivotal,' French envoy says

DAMASCUS, Syria, July 14 (UPI) -- Syria has a "pivotal" role to play in European and French relations in terms of economic and cultural ties, the French envoy to Damascus said.

Michel Duclos, the French ambassador, told the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency that the historic, economic and cultural ties between the two countries were a sign of Syria's importance.

"No one can deny Syria's pivotal role," he said. "We believe that the development in Syrian-French relations as well as Syrian-European relations will enable Syria to play a more active role in the region."

Duclos said relations had improved since Syrian President Bashar Assad met with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy in July 2008 to discuss bilateral political and economic measures.

Syrian independence from France was recognized in 1946.

Meanwhile, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mikdad met with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on the sidelines of a summit in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, to discuss the post-election climate in Iran.

Mikdad said Damascus welcomed the outcome of the June 12 presidential elections in Iran that secured a second term for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Mikdad said the outcome was a genuine reflection of the will of the Iranian people and condemned foreign meddling in Iranian affairs.