President Bashar al-Assad said Tuesday that Europe has to play a greater role in the Middle East to push the peace process and to have a clear and realistic vision towards the region's issues as it is able to understand these issues due to its historic and geographic proximity to the region.

Meeting Danish Foreign Minister Lene Espersen and the accompanying delegation President al-Assad presented Syria's vision over the situation in the Middle East.

Espersen, in turn, confirmed Syria's key role in the Middle East, and the need for Europe to have a more comprehensive approach towards the overall issues of the Arab region so that Europe can play an active role in finding solutions to these issues.

Talks during the meeting also dealt with the bilateral relations and the need to push them forwards in all fields, mainly in the economic and cultural areas.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, Presidential Political and Media Advisor Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, Deputy Foreign Minister Abdel-Fattah Ammoura and the Director of Europe Department at the Foreign Ministry