PESHAWAR: The UAE President, Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan Al-Nahiyan, today [March 11] described friendship between Pakistan and his country as `strong and ancient` and hoped they would grow further. In a brief airport interview ... the Sheikh praised Prime Minister Bhutto and wished the people of Pakistan prosperity and progress under his leadership. In low-voiced, fluent Arabic, the distinguished guest expressed the hope that exchange of visits between the two countries would continue to bring their people closer. Staff correspondent [Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Damascus,] Syrian President Hafez Assad declared yesterday [March 10] after a weekend of incidents with Israel that `armed struggle is the main solution which remains for us`. ... Speaking at a ... ceremony for veterans of the October war ... Gen. Assad also said `the road to a just peace is long and difficult.

We are confronted by an enemy whose existence ... continues to be founded on expansion and aggression`. A New York report adds: `Time` magazine ... said President Assad is not pessimistic about chances for a Middle East peace and believes attempts at Israeli-Syrian disengagement `pushes us to further efforts`.