Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam, a member of the Interim Governing Council in Iraq, received Iyad Allawi, Secretary-General of the National Accord Movement. The meeting constitutes the first step towards the Transitional Council, which Damascus refused to recognize while being prepared to “deal” with its members and the members of the formed government, noting that a first contact did not take place with the head of the “Council,” Ahmed Chalabi. Official sources quoted Khaddam as saying his country was keen on fraternal relations and on Iraq restoring its Arab and international role and ending the occupation, pointing out that Allawi spoke about “the importance of cooperation between the two brotherly countries and Syria’s support for the people of Iraq to overcome their suffering.”