Joint Syrian-Iranian statement: Emphasis on strengthening cooperation between the two countries on the basis of strategic relations

Damascus (ST): Syria and Iran underlined in a joint statement at the end of the visit of Iranian President Dr. Ibrahim Raisi at the invitation of President Bashar al-Assad, the importance of strengthening bilateral relations on the basis of fraternal and strategic relations between the two countries, and the necessity of respecting national sovereignty and independence and preserving the territorial integrity of the two countries in accordance with the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter.

The statement said: In response to the official invitation of the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, President Bashar al-Assad, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Ibrahim Raisi, paid an official visit to the Syrian Arab Republic on Wednesday, Thursday, the third and fourth of May 2023, and during his meetings with senior Syrian officials, he discussed ways to expand and strengthen bilateral relations, and the latest developments in the region and the situation at the global level.

The two presidents held in-depth discussions that focused on ways to develop and strengthen bilateral relations on the basis of brotherly and strategic relations between the two countries, in addition to discussing the latest developments in the region and the world.

The two sides stressed the necessity of respecting national sovereignty and independence and preserving the territorial integrity of the two states in accordance with the goals and principles of the UN Charter.

The two sides underlined the importance of strengthening bilateral relations through the continuation of political, economic, consular and other fields of cooperation, as well as the continuation of visits by high-level delegations between the two countries.

The two sides expressed their readiness and desire to take all measures to develop trade and economic relations between the two countries through the existing mechanisms, including the Joint Higher Committee, and they also affirmed the existing cooperation between them with regard to the reconstruction of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the joint cooperation in the field of combating terrorism and extremism, stressing the continuation of joint cooperation in order to eliminate all terrorist groups once and for all.

The two sides strongly condemned the attacks carried out by the Zionist entity against the Syrian Arab Republic, considering them a destabilizing factor in the region, and the two sides affirmed Syria’s legitimate right to respond to these attacks in an appropriate manner.

They also denounced the continuation of the occupying entity’s occupation of the Syrian Golan, as well as the actions taken by the authorities of this occupying entity, including the decision to annex the Golan, which contradicts the principles of international law, as the Syrian Golan is considered occupied territory at the level of the legal status, and strongly condemned the US administration’s decision to recognize the annexation of the Syrian Golan, which is a flagrant violation of the principles of the United Nations.

The two sides condemned all forms of the illegal presence of military forces on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, which constitutes an occupation, stressing the need to end it as a violation of the national sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic and its territorial integrity demanding a decisive position from the international community to stop these actions.

The two sides strongly denounced the coercive, unilateral and illegal measures taken by the United States of America and the European Union against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Syrian Arab Republic, which are considered a violation of international law and international human rights, expressing their concern about this approach that harms innocent people, emphasizing the need for the immediate cancellation of this Inhumane acts.

The Iranian side also declared once again its support for the government and people of the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as its solidarity with it regarding the recent devastating earthquake in the country.

The two sides also denounced the continuation of the unjust blockade and illegal sanctions by Western countries against the Syrian people in post-earthquake circumstances and stressed the need to immediately break this blockade in order to facilitate the delivery of international aid for the reconstruction of the areas affected by the earthquake.

The two sides welcomed the positive political developments in the region, especially the constructive communication between Syria and the Arab countries, and the Iranian-Saudi agreement that took place under Chinese auspices. They considered that this agreement constitutes an important step towards more positive developments that serve the stability of the Middle East Countries in the region to meet challenges and provide security, prosperity and tranquility in the region through internal regional cooperation.

They valued the blood of the martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the sake of Syria’s victory in its war against terrorism.

The Iranian side appreciated the efforts exerted to create appropriate conditions and facilitate the return of Syrian refugees to their cities and villages in the Syrian Arab Republic, calling on the international community to provide the required assistance in this field and stop exploiting the suffering of refugees by some countries to serve their political agendas.

The two sides affirmed that the occupying Zionist entity is the main cause of crises and the threat to peace and security in the region, and rejected the hostile measures of this entity against the Islamic sanctities in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and its attempts to change the legal and historical conditions of Jerusalem, and condemned the continuation of illegal settlement operations as well as occupation practices in Palestine. They considered all of this a flagrant violation of international law and human rights.

K.Q.