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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has expressed his gratitude to India for favouring peaceful resolution of the strife in his country when he met a women's delegation of global women leaders in Damascus.
Annie Raja of Communist Party of India, who was part of an eight-member delegation of Women International Democratic Federation (WIDF) of which she is the vice-president, had called on Assad earlier this week, a CPI statement said here.
The Syrian President apprised the delegation about the prevailing situation and the steps taken by his government to resolve the ongoing crisis.
"While thanking the delegation for the solidarity visit, President Assad expressed his whole-hearted gratitude to the people of India and the government for their consistent support to and solidarity with Syria at this crucial juncture," the statement said.
The delegation expressed solidarity and support to Syria at a time when it was facing "immense threat from US and sectarian fundamentalist forces," it said.
The team also held a series of meetings with the Syrian Vice President, the Speaker of the Syrian Parliament and Ministers of Finance, Tourism and Social Welfare, among others.
During their stay from October 19-23, the delegation also visited relief camps, hospitals and schools and interacted with a cross-section of people especially the women and children who have been "the worst affected in the sectarian violence by fundamentalist forces".
Headquartered in Brazil, the WIDF was founded in 1945 as an anti-war women's network across the globe.
