Sabbagh affirms the need to enhance parliamentary relations between Syria and South Africa

Damascus, (ST) – Speaker of the People’s Assembly Hammouda Sabbagh stressed, during his meeting on Wednesday,with the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa in Damascus, Barry Philip Gilder, the need to enhance relations between the Assembly and the National Assembly in South Africa. He also affirmed on activating the mutual visits of parliamentary delegations in the interest of the two friendly countries and peoples.

During the meeting, Sabbagh referred to the historical relations that unite the two countries and for the need to clarify the reality of the situation in Syria to the public opinion in South Africa. He stressed that, Syria highly appreciates the struggle of the people in the Republic of South Africa in the past against the apartheid regime.

Gilder affirmed his country’s appreciation of Syria’s supportive stances, especially through the United Nations, in the process of defending the right of the people of South Africa and the peoples of the world to struggle against the forces of colonialism and imperialism. He expressed keenness to activate bilateral relations in various fields, especially parliamentary ones, and to enhance communication and mutual visits between parliamentarians in both countries.

Ambassador Gilder indicated that he continues to strive with all efforts to convey the true picture of what is happening in Syria to the public opinion in his country. He pointed to the misleading operations practiced by Western media with the aim of distorting the facts in Syria.

The meeting was attended by a number of council members and the office of the Syrian-South African Friendship Committee in the council.

Raghda Sawas