BEIRUT, Feb 28 (KUNA) -- Iranian Minister of Defense Ali Shamkhani praised here Saturday the Lebanese national unity considering that it helped defeating the Israeli enemy.

Shamkhani, after his meeting with the Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, reported the congratulations of the Iranian people for the great achievement of bringing back a group of Lebanese prisoners from Israel.

He noted that Iran shares the Lebanese victory, asserting the Iranian support of Lebanon's stands and decisions, and asserting that Iran faces the same conspiracies that Lebanon and other Arab countries face.

He said that the Lebanese resistance creates an example for all countries to follow to receive their rights and fight aggression.

Shamkhani asserted that the talks he had with his Lebanese counterpart Mahmoud Hammoud set the base for new bilateral cooperation in the military field, and that they have agreed on some terms that define the frame of this cooperation.

Shamkhani and his accompanying delegation met the Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and other officials in the Lebanese government.

Article originally published by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) 28-Feb-04