DAMASCUS (IRNA) -- Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad discussed major bilateral, regional and international issues in the first round of talks here on Thursday.

President Ahmadinejad arrived in Damascus earlier Thursday on a two-day visit at the head of ranking Iranian officials.

The president said that an insistence by Tehran and Damascus on their own revolutionary and principled stances have foiled abundant plots facing the two countries during the last decades.

President Ahmadinejad said that he was happy that Tehran-Damascus relations are not just limited to economic ties and have been extended to cover political and cultural ties as well.

"Tehran and Damascus have a common stance on Islamic and regional issues," the president told reporters in Tehran before heading for Syria.

The Syrian president, for his part, welcomed the promotion of bilateral relations, saying that the ground is prepared for further cooperation in the fields of industry, oil, rail, and air transportation.

Touching on the regional and international issues, the two presidents criticized Washington for sabotaging the process of the formation of the new parliament in Iraq.

They stated that continuation of insecurity in Iraq would only serve the interests of the occupying forces who seek to prolong their occupation.

"The occupation of Iraq should be brought to an end as soon as possible following the completion of the ongoing political process in Iraq and after establishment of democratic bodies in accordance to the country's Constitution," the two presidents stressed.

They said that establishment of the Iraqi legitimate government and the consequent withdrawal of the occupying force would lead to security in Iraq and therefore, would let its government to strongly counter the terrorists.

In regard to the current situation in Palestine and Lebanon, the two presidents stressed that the world arrogance and Zionism should not be given the chance to fulfill their plots in Lebanon and push the country back to 1975-1990 civil war.

Iranian and Syrian presidents said that continued resistance is the only way to restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation and put an end to the occupation of the holy Islamic lands.

Ahmadinejad visit to inspire stronger resistance

Syrian Prime Minister Naji al-Utri told reporters Thursday that the meeting between Iranian and Syrian presidents would motivate further resistance by the two countries and make them stronger in their will to deal with pressures and challenges facing the two strategic allies.

Utri pointed to remarkable growth in Tehran-Damascus economic cooperation, saying that many projects have been undertaken in his country by the Iranian experts.

Palestinian movement motivated by Lebanese Hezbollah

Ahmadinejad stressed that the Palestinian movement has been motivated by the successes of Lebanese Hezbollah in the path to self-determination.

Making the remark in a meeting with the Secretary General of Lebanese Hezbollah Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah here Thursday, Ahmadinejad highlighted the role of Hezbollah at the very forefront of resistance against the aggressions of the Zionist occupiers.

Ahmadinejad stresses need to keep stability, peace in Lebanon

Ahmadinejad on Thursday stressed the need to safeguard peace and stability in Lebanon. Ahmadinejad made the statement in a meeting with members of the board of directors of Lebanon's Association of Muslim Ulema here Thursday.

The president stated that the tree of Islamic vigilance was just blooming and said that hopes for justice and spirituality were being revived in many hearts.

He said the enemies were trying to project their own problems onto Islamic front in a bid to fan the flame of tensions and conflicts in Lebanon.

The president further believed keeping peace and stability of Lebanon was a very significant revolutionary act.

New wave of Islamic awareness to disappoint enemies

Ahmadinejad told the Lebanese Al-Minar TV on Friday that enemies of Islam would lead nowhere in confrontation with will of Islamic nations, adding, "By Allah's Will, new wave of Islamic awareness would carry our enemies away."

According to IRNA correspondent, Al-Minar correspondent had asked the Iranian president whether Iran and Syria had adopted a shared strategy to confront effectively the threats of their enemies.

The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran reiterated, "A global front against oppression and hegemony is now taking shape and all noble nations, justice seeker, and thoughtful individuals are gradually putting hands in hand to shape up a vast front against the hegemonic system and mentality."

On the Tehran-Damascus ties, Ahmadinejad said, "The two countries' ties are quite deep-rooted and very extensive, and ever since the victory of the Islamic Revolution such relations have been improving incessantly."

The president reiterated, "I both hope and am quite certain that this visit, that is made in response to President Bashar Assad's visit, is a long stride toward further development of bilateral and regional ties."