Minister Miqdad: The Syrian-Indian relations are strong and we seek to deepen them in various fields

New Delhi (ST) Foreign and Expatriates ): Minister, Dr. Faisal Al-Miqdad, affirmed that the relations between the two friendly countries, Syria and India, are strong and characterized by special affection, and we seek to strengthen and deepen them in various fields during the coming period.

Al-Miqdad said in a statement to news reporter in India: The Syrian visits to India have not been interrupted, and on this basis the communication was continuous. The Indian embassy in Damascus did not stop its work completely, and the Syrian embassy in New Delhi continued its work as usual.

Al-Miqdad added: In the political sphere, India supported Syria in its war on terrorism and demanded an end to this unjust war against it, and called on the forces that directly support and finance it to stop what they are doing, and when it stands on the side of Syria, it stands on the side of the truth.

Al-Miqdad continued: In the economic field, India has not stopped providing Syria with humanitarian aid or economic support, and there are many areas in which Syria relies on the aid it receives and economic support from India, whether in the field of food, medicine or technology.

The Minister expressed his confidence that relations between the two countries will develop in all fields, especially in the technological field. India is contributing today to the reconstruction in Syria, and every year it graduates more than 100 Syrian students in various specializations that we need in the field of reconstruction.

He indicated that the Syrian Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dispatched 75 Syrian diplomats to India during the last three years, to benefit from the expertise of the Indian Diplomatic Institute, and that 1,000 Syrian students benefit from Indian scholarships annually at the best Indian universities.

He went on to say: There is a deep belief by India in the need to increase cooperation in the field of combating terrorism, as we are countries that directly combat terrorism, and we believe that these efforts will be deepened during the coming period. It should be passed on to our friends in India, and we are also benefiting from India’s experience in this field.

In an exclusive interview with (One World) Channel, Minister Miqdad affirmed that India is a country that respects international laws and the Charter of the United Nations, and has honorable positions in supporting the rights and freedoms of peoples in the world and Arab issues, especially the Palestinian cause.

Al-Miqdad pointed out that Turkey set up tents for the supposed influx of Syrian refugees even before the start of the terrorist war on Syria, where terrorist groups and (the Muslim Brotherhood movement) with Turkish and Western support forced citizens to flee after destroying their homes, and then exploited by Erdogan’s regime to blackmail Western countries.

Miqdad pointed out that the United States of America, Western countries and Turkey are exploiting terrorists today to achieve political goals, and they refuse and prevent the return of the displaced Syrians despite the guarantees provided by the Syrian government for them to return, stressing that what Syria witnessed was a war against it, destruction, killing and displacement of its people.

K.Q.