Al-Mikdad: Humanitarian Work Should be Based on Neutrality, Non-politicization

DAMASCUS, (ST)-Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faysal al-Mikdad has stressed that neutrality, independence and non-politicization should be taken into consideration when carrying out humanitarian work.

He made the remarks during his meeting on Tuesday with the new Ambassador of the UN Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Syria Ayaki Ito. During the meeting, al-Mikdad received Ito’s credentials.

 The deputy minister affirmed the importance of continuous cooperation between the Syrian government and the UN Refugee Agency within the terrorist war waged on Syria, hailing the UNHCR’s efforts over the past years to alleviate the health and economic repercussions Syria has faced because of this war.

  Ito, on his part, highly appreciated Syria’s long-term cooperation with UNHCR, stressing that this cooperation has resulted in fulfilling the two sides’ humanitarian mission properly.

He also affirmed that the Commission will cooperate with the Syrian government to ensure good return for the Syrian refugees to their homeland and to create better environment and living conditions for all the Syrians.

Syria highly appreciates China’s support

Earlier, al-Mikdad held a meeting with a delegation representing the Chinese Communist Party (CPC). Relations of friendship and cooperation binding Syria and China as well as means of activating them besides relations between al-Baath Arab Socialist Party and CPC, were reviewed.

According to SANA, head of the guest delegation said that the visit aims at expressing solidarity with Syria in front of the challenges and pressures exercised on it in the course of protecting its people’s interests and dignity and it also aims at congratulating it on the achievements done in combating terrorism, in addition to working on enhancing the bilateral relations and getting acquainted to Syria’s viewpoint over international and regional issues and the latest developments in Syria with regards to the political process and the reconstruction process.

He also lauded the historic relations between al-Baath Arab Socialist Party and CPC , pointing out that the party will not spare any effort to support the Syrian people.

For his part, Mikdad pointed out that Syria highly appreciates the Chinese support to Syria during the years of war against terrorism on Syria, particularly when China used the veto at the UN Security Council several times.

He added that the relations between the two countries and two parties aim at unifying efforts of the two countries towards a more secure and just world in facing the aggressive policies of some states that blatantly violate the international law and sovereignty of states.

Mikdad affirmed that Syria is going ahead in its war against terrorism until it restores every inch of its territories in parallel with completing the reconciliation process, adding that the political process belongs to the Syrian people, who are the only side to determine the future of the country, pointing at the same time to Syria’s openness on sincere initiatives and efforts in a way that guarantees Syria’s integrity and serves interests of the Syrian people.

Hamda Mustafa