Tehran, March 13 (RHC)-- Cuba and Venezuela participated as extra regional guest countries in the 1st Meeting of Parliamentary Leaders of of the Friends of Syria Countries, held earlier this week in the Iranian capital, Cuban diplomatic sources reported.

The invitation to the heads of delegations of the two Latin American countries, along with the presidents of the Foreign Policy Commissions of both nations' legislative bodies, was interpreted as a deference, during a meeting convened by the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament) of Iran.

Delegations from Algeria, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Russia also attended the forum, according to a press release.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani stressed the importance of increasing support and solidarity with Syria, and condemned that the territory of the neighboring country has turned into a training camp for terrorists, who are later sent to destabilize and sow terror in other neighboring countries.

The President of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Majlis (Iranian Parliament), Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said that in his recent tour of Latin America, he had the opportunity to visit Venezuela and Cuba, where he held fruitful exchanges with authorities.

Cuban Ambassador to Iran, Vladimir Gonzalez, ratified Cuba's friendship and solidarity with the Syrian people and government, who are courageously resisting and confronting foreign aggression and terrorist actions.

Gonzalez states that as a matter of principle, Cuba condemns the crimes committed against the Syrian people and rejects terrorism in all its forms and expressions.