Al-Miqdad confers with Zarif on Geneva-2- Conference

TEHRAN,(ST)_Syria and Iran have reiterated that combating terrorism must be a priority in the Geneva-2 conference due to be held in January 22nd.

The two sides’ remarks were made during talks held between deputy foreign minister Faisal Al-Miqdad and the Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the assistant to foreign minister for Arab and African affairs Hussien Amir Abdullahian. 

Al-Miqdad, who is visiting Tehran, saw eye-to-eye with the Iranian officials on the necessity of pressing the countries that support and sponsor terrorism to stop providing the takfiri terrorist groups with money and weapons. 

The official news agency reported that al-Miqdad and Zarif affirmed that combating terrorism must be a priority in the Geneva-2 conference, noting that the two sides’ talks zeroed in on the Syrian-Iranian ties, Geneva 2 conference and the regional and international developments. 

It added: “The two sides warned that the crimes being perpetrated by the terrorist groups pose threats to security and stability of the region.”

The agency quoted Al-Miqdad as stressing the necessity of ensuring all success factors for the Geneva-2 conference in order to combat terrorism and to move forward in negotiations among the Syrians under the Syrian leadership with no strings attached and without foreign intervention.

Al-Miqdad underlined  the importance of Iran’s participation in the conference without preconditions as it [Iran] has a key role in solving regional and international causes.

He praised Iran’s stance that backs the political solution to the ongoing crisis and the restoration of stability and security. Al-Miqdad described what is going on in the country as “terrorist war”.

Ugliest War

For his part, Zarif called for unifying international and regional efforts to fight terrorism which is targeting Syria. “Political solution and dialogue among the Syrian themselves without any intervention in the Syrian affair are the solution to the situation in Syria.”

The Iranian official cited the continuity of his country’s support for the steadfastness of the Syrian people that is facing what he described the ‘ ugliest terrorist global war’.

Basma Qaddour