Iraqi and Syrian leaders met in Qatar, agreement on respecting the sovereignty of the two countries

(Patria) - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Qatar, which is their first meeting, Iraqi and Syrian state news agencies reported.

The meeting was mediated by Qatar, and attended by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. This comes ahead of Sharaa's expected arrival at the Arab summit in Baghdad on May 17, Reuters reported.

In January, Sharaa was appointed interim president and pledged to form an inclusive transitional government that would rebuild devastated public institutions and govern the country until elections, which he said could be in five years.

Syria issued a constitutional declaration, designed to serve as the basis for the transitional period led by Sharaa. The declaration retained the central role of Islamic law and guaranteed women's rights and freedom of expression.

During Thursday's meeting, al-Sudani called for the start of a comprehensive political process and the protection of social, religious, and ethnic diversity in Syria, especially after the attacks on Alawites last month.

Hundreds of Alawites were killed in Syria's western coastal region in retaliation for a deadly ambush on new Syrian security forces by armed loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, an Alawite.

The Iraqi Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of the new Syrian government taking serious steps in the fight against Islamic State militants. He said that progress made on these issues could help build growing relations between Baghdad and Damascus.

Both leaders agreed to respect the sovereignty of the two countries and reject all forms of foreign interference.