Patil, Bashar seek upgradation of economic ties

India and Syria should take their historic ties to a new level, leveraging their growing importance in the world to each other???s advantage, particularly in the economic sphere: this was the message that both Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and visiting Indian President Pratibha Patil emphasised at a joint press conference at the impressive Kasra Sha???ab, the People???s Palace, in the historic city of Damascus on a bright and crisp Saturday morning.Earlier, when President Patil arrived to a red carpet welcome and a guard of honour at the Kasra Sha???ab, ??? reserved for ceremonial occasions ??? she was received by President Assad and the immaculately groomed London-born First Lady Asma al-Assad. A military band, spent the hour before the Indian President arrived at the Palace, practicing and re-practicing the Indian National Anthem.Interestingly, President Assad devoted close to half his statement to the press to the political element in the talks between the two leaders, focusing on bringing peace to West Asia, even though India can play, at best, a modest role as a mediator between Israel and the Arab world in the region. Both leaders, he said, reiterated their condemnation of all forms of terrorism in all forms: on the second anniversary of 26/11 (Friday), he had said Syria renewed its support to India in fighting terrorism. He also reiterated Syria???s support to India???s efforts to secure a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, and stressed the importance of reforming the U.N. so that it becomes ???more democratic, representative and efficient???.He also said Syria supported the recent statement made by the Foreign Ministers of India, China and Russia on the right of Iran and all other countries to possess nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, ???stressing at the same time the necessity of making the West Asia region free of all kinds of mass destruction weapons???.Expressing his appreciation of India???s position on Arab rights, particularly the Pal