Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a message of greetings to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, regional secretary of Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party, on Saturday.

The message says:

I extend warm and heartfelt congratulations to you and the friendly government and people of your country on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the corrective movement, a historic day of the Syrian people.

After the corrective movement the Syrian people have made great successes in their efforts to defend sovereignty of the country and achieve its development and modernization under the leadership of His Excellency Hafez Al-Assad and you.

I, availing myself of this opportunity, express full support and solidarity with the just cause of you and the Syrian people to retake the occupied Arab territories and solve the Mideast issue in a fair and comprehensive way and sincerely wish the friendly people of your country new progress and prosperity.