Al-Mikdad: Syria’s Relations with Algeria are very strong

Algeria, (ST) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Al-Mikdad reaffirmed the depth and strength of relations between Syria and Algeria and the close coordination between the two countries in various fields.

He noted Algeria’s firm stance on supporting Syria, especially because Syria and Algeria went through the same experience in confronting terrorism, stressing that the two countries are in the same trench against the same enemy.

In an interview with Algiers International Channel on the sidelines of his visit to Algeria, Al-Mikdad said: The meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune lasted for more than two hours, and this indicates that he was cordial and intimate and it expressed the depth of relations between the two brotherly countries.

He added that the verbal message he conveyed to him from the President Bashar Al-Assad was a message of amity through which President Al-Assad expressed his great appreciation to President Tebboune and the Algerian people for all what this great people have offered to Syria since the beginning of the crisis in 2011 until now.

Al-Mikdad indicated that the letter included an explanation of the developments in Syria and the region and the current political moves that have been taken at different levels concerning enhancing cooperation with neighboring countries, concerning the Astana process on Syria and concerning the visits made by many Arab officials during the past few weeks to Syria, and the visits that Al-Mikdad has made to Arab countries.

Al-Mikdad stressed that the more natural and strong the relations of Arab countries with each other, the stronger their international relations will be, and the more they are able to face common challenges.

Regarding the visits of President Al-Assad to the  UAE and the Sultanate of Oman, and regarding Al-Mikdad’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates clarified that “all Arab countries know that what Syria has been exposed to can be experienced by any Arab country and Syria was the beginning, so we can say that these visits came out of the desire of all parties in order to end the stage that we passed through and open a new stage in Arab-Arab relations to face the challenges that target our countries”.

In response to a question about Syria’s return to the League of Arab States, Al-Mikdad stressed that what matters to Syria is reforming relations between Arab countries because it is the real way to make the League or joint Arab cooperation beneficial.

Al-Mikdad emphasized that Syria, which believes in the Arab dimension of all the issues of our countries, and calls for the unification of Arab positions towards these issues, cannot accept being responsible for the division between Arab countries. He added that Syria appreciates that most Arab countries are now beginning to understand that the path of joint Arab action is the only path that preserves our dignity as Arabs, our rights and the rights of the Palestinian people.

Al-Mikdad reaffirmed Syria’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people in confronting the Israeli crimes and attacks on their land and sanctities, foremost of which is the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He pointed out that these crimes and violations are inseparable from the repeated attacks carried out by the occupation on the Syrian lands, to which Syria decides in its own way to respond to it at a time that serves it and does not serve the occupation entity.

“The occupied Syrian Golan will inevitably return to the homeland”, Al-Mikdad reiterated.

Raghda Sawas