Al-Mikdad : Syria urges concerted efforts for confronting terrorism

Baku, (ST) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Faisal Al-Mikdad affirmed that the grave challenges that the world is witnessing as a result of the policies of hegemony, polarization, and pressures exerted by some Western countries require developing the work of the Non-Aligned Movement countries and strengthening their joint coordination in order to build a more secure world dominated by peace and cooperation based on respect for the sovereignty and independence of states and non-interference in their internal affairs.

Al-Mikdad said in today’s speech during the meeting of foreign ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement countries in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku: “I first congratulate the friendly Republic of Azerbaijan for successfully hosting the work of this important meeting of foreign ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement countries and for its wise choice of its slogan “United and steadfast in facing emerging challenges”, which indicates that the movement’s leadership and its member states realize the size of the multifaceted challenges that our world is witnessing today, which requires the development of our work and the strengthening of our joint coordination.

Al-Mikdad added: I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the member states of the movement that stood by Syria and extended a helping hand and support to the Syrian people following the catastrophe of the devastating earthquake that occurred on the sixth of February, which left thousands of victims and destroyed many homes, infrastructure and service facilities.

Al-Mikdad said that the wills of the Non-Aligned Movement countries have met since the Bandung and Belgrade conferences to work for a more secure world in which peace, justice, solidarity and cooperation prevail based on respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of states, equality among them, non-interference in their internal affairs, resolving disputes by peaceful means, preventing acts of aggression and the use of force.

Al-Miqdad said that while Syria is working to overcome the unjust war it has been subjected to over the past years, it looks forward to the strong support of the Non-Aligned Movement for the great efforts made by the Syrian government to improve the humanitarian situation, advance the economy and achieve early recovery, thus contributing to the provision of necessary vital services for the dignified return of refugees and displaced persons to their areas of origin.

Al-Mikdad indicated that Syria stresses concerted efforts to confront the scourge of terrorism from which the Syrians have suffered over the past years and paid a heavy price with their lives and property in confronting it, not only in defense of Syria, but also in defense of international peace and security, the values of human civilization and the principles of international law that movement is believing in.

Al-Mikdad stressed that Syria condemns the policies of blockade and collective punishment of peoples represented by illegal unilateral coercive measures and calls on the Movement’s member states to strengthen and intensify their efforts for the immediate, complete and unconditional lifting of those measures to end the human suffering that affects many countries of the Movement and harms the security, stability and well-being of its people.

Al-Mikdad pointed out that the Israeli occupation of the Arab lands in Syria, Palestine and Lebanon is continuous as well as the systematic and repeated attacks of the Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinian people and our people in the occupied Syrian Golan continuous. He added that the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by “Israel” in the Jenin camp and against our people in the Golan are only examples of Israel’s brutal practices deserve condemnation and collective action against them.

Al-Mikdad made it clear that Syria condemns all these Israeli practices and rejects any measure aimed at violating the legal, geographical and demographic status of the occupied Syrian Arab Golan, and affirms its right to fully restore it up to the line of June 4, 1967, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions, especially resolutions 242, 338 and 497. He stressed that Syria confirms its determination to end any illegal foreign military presence on its territory.

At the end of his speech, Al-Mikdad pointed out that Syria congratulates Uganda on its assumption of the next presidency of the movement and looks forward to participating in the Kampala summit early next year.

Raghda Sawas