Vienna, April 27, SPA -- Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad met his Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer in Vienna Monday, at the start of a visit that was set to focus not only on the situation in the Middle East, but also on bilateral economic ties. In his talks with Fischer, Al-Assad was expected to discussSyria's role in the region. In an interview published Sunday in the Austrian daily Die Presse, the Syrian president said Israel has an "extremist, far-rightgovernment that does not support peace." Damascus insists that Israel give back the occupied Golan Heights before peace talks between the two countries can start, according to a report of DPA. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Sunday he waswilling to hold talks with Syria, but without any prior conditions. On the two-day visit, Al-Assad is accompanied by his wife Asma al-Assad and a large business delegation. Austria sees the Middle Eastern nation as a growth market amid the global economic downturn, with exports increasing by some 46 per cent in 2008.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/658513