Zoaralek to al-Mikdad: Czech Republic Ready to be Active Partner in Syria’s Reconstruction Process

PRAGUE, (ST)-Deputy Minister of Foreign  Affairs and Expatriates Faysal al-Mikdad on Thursday held talks in Prague with the Czech Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Andrej Babis and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lubomir Zaoralek.

Talks dealt with the situation in Syria, efforts aiming to attain political solution to the crisis in the country and the possibility of having active Czech participation in Syria’s reconstruction process.

  “The talks were very important,” al-Mikdad told SANA reporter in Prague, pointing out that Zaoralek expressed his admiration over the Syrian government’s political plan for solving the crisis and hoped that Geneva talks will lead to political settlement in the country.

He added that the Czech foreign minister said his country is willing to be a partner in post-crisis reconstruction process in Syria.

On his part, Zaoralek said the talks indicated that the Syrian and Czech views on several issues were identical, particularly on the need to get the European Union strongly engaged in the efforts being exerted to end the crisis in Syria, maintain the cessation of hostilities there and carry out development projects in the country.

According to Zaoralek, Europe’s biggest task now is to seek reaching political solution to the crisis in Syria.

“Achieving this goal is the responsibility of all,” he stressed.

In the same context, Mikdad discussed with Head of the International department at Czech Presidential Palace Hynek Kmonicek Syria’s efforts to combat terrorism and the international efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis in the country.

Kmonicek told SANA that Al-Mikdad’s visit was “very successful” it gains political importance, affirming his country’s commitment to continue the work of its embassy in Damascus.

For his part, Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Tlapa said at a joint press conference with Mikdad that his country decided to boost its share in the European joint projects to offer humanitarian aid to Syria, adding that it prepares an exceptional assistance of medicines to the Syrian Red Crescent.

A-Mikdad is on a three-day visit to the Czech republic for talks with Czech officials on political and economic issues. The visit is due to end on Friday.

Hamda Mustafa