Damascus, Oct. 19 (SANA) –Upon an invitation from President Bashar al-Assad, President Traian Basescu of Romania and his Wife will pay an official visit to Syria on Monday.

During his two-day visit, President Basescu will hold talks with President al-Assad on the bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, regional and international developments.

The visit of Romanian President comes as part of European increasing interest in Syria and the role she is playing over regional and international files and finding solutions to the region's problems, and as part of continued visit to Syria by senior European officials during this year, particularly the latest vist by French President Nicolas Sarkozy whose country is the duty President of the European Union.

Romania's joining the EU last year helped giving it wider capabilities to contribute in finding solutions to major issues of interest for the European Continent and the Middle East as Romania has stressed in many occasions its support to the just and comprehensive peace in the region based on the relevant international legitimacy resolutions.

Syria and Romania last year signed three agreements in the field of investment, prevention of double taxation and exempting diplomats in each country from the VAT duties.

The two sides hope that these agreements would help raise the level of cooperation, especially in the areas of investment and increase the volume of trade exchange to reach nearly S.P. 4.5 billions.

H. Sabbagh / Ahmad Fathi ZAHRA