In a handout picture released by the official Syrian news agency (SANA), Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (L) meets Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen (R) in Damascus on June 22, 2009. Verhagen is on a regional tour aimed to discuss ways of promoting Middle East peace and during which he is expected to meet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian premier Salam Fayyad as well as an array of government ministers. Getty Images logo Getty Images 4 months ago

In a handout picture released by the official Syrian news agency (SANA), Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (L) meets Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen (R) in Damascus on June 22, 2009. Verhagen is on a regional tour aimed to discuss ways of promoting Middle East peace and during which he is expected to meet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian premier Salam Fayyad as well as an array of government ministers.

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  1. Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, and his host Croatian President Stipe Mesic pose before before convening for talks in the Presidential palace in Zagreb, on October 28. 2009. Assad arrived on a two-day visit.
  2. Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, and his host Croatian President Stipe Mesic pose for a photo before convening for talks in the Presidential palace in Zagreb, on October 28. 2009. Assad arrived on a two-day visit.
  3. Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, and his host Croatian President Stipe Mesic inspect the guard of honour during an arrival ceremony at the Presidential palace in Zagreb, on October 28. 2009. Assad arrived on a two-day visit.
  4. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia offers Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) a legion of honour, in Damascus October 7,2009. King Abdullah arrived in Damascus on Wednesday on a visit aimed at reconciling with Syria and forging a common Arab stance on issues regarding Lebanon, the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional and international alliances to help stabilise the Middle East, political sources said.
  5. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia during the exchange a legion of honour, at the al-Shaeb presidential palace in Damascus October 7,2009. King Abdullah arrived in Damascus on Wednesday on a visit aimed at reconciling with Syria and forging a common Arab stance on issues regarding Lebanon, the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional and international alliances to help stabilise the Middle East, political sources said.
  6. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) meets King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the al-Shaeb presidential palace in Damascus October 7,2009. King Abdullah arrived in Damascus on Wednesday on a visit aimed at reconciling with Syria and forging a common Arab stance on issues regarding Lebanon, the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional and international alliances to help stabilise the Middle East, political sources said.
  7. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen (R) gives a press conference with his new German counterpart Guido Westerwelle after their meeting on November 2, 2009 in the Hague. The Netherlands is the first foreign destination of Westerwelle, who was sworn in on October 28.
  8. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen (R) gives a press conference with his new German counterpart Guido Westerwelle after their meeting on November 2, 2009 in the Hague. The Netherlands is the first foreign destination of Westerwelle, who was sworn in on October 28.
  9. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen (R) welcomes his new German counterpart Guido Westerwelle on November 2, 2009 in the Hague. The Netherlands is the first foreign destination of Westerwelle, who was sworn in on October 28.
  10. (FromL) Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet of Estonia, Maris Riekstins of Latvia, Maxime Verhagen of The Netherlands and Vygaudas Usackas of Lithuania chat on October 12, 2009 prior the meeting of Baltic and Benelux Foreign Ministers held in Vilnius.
  11. (FromL) Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen of The Netherlands, Jean Asselborn of Luxembourg and Urmas Paet of Estonia chat on October 12, 2009 prior the meeting of Baltic and Benelux Foreign Ministers held in Vilnius.
  12. (L to R) Latvia Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Maxime Verhagen, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas speak prior a meeting of Baltic and Benelux Foreign Ministers held in Vilnius on October 12, 2009.
  13. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Interior Minister Eliyahu Yishai (2nd R) arrive for the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem October 18, 2009. Netanyahu promised a lengthy diplomatic battle to "delegitimise" United Nations charges that Israel committed war crimes in the Gaza Strip, an official said on Saturday.
  14. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Education Minister Gideon Saar attend the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem October 18, 2009. Netanyahu promised a lengthy diplomatic battle to "delegitimise" United Nations charges that Israel committed war crimes in the Gaza Strip, an official said on Saturday.
  15. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, left, adjust their earpieces during a joint news conference at Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009. Zapatero is on an official visit to Israel and the West Bank.
  16. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) attends the opening of the winter session of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem October 12, 2009. Netanyahu gave no ground on peace with the Palestinians in a speech on Monday, reasserting they must recognise Israel as a Jewish state if they wanted a deal for a state of their own.

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