Al-Mikdad: Syrian-Algerian relations are deeply-rooted

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Al-Mikdad has affirmed that the Syrian-Algerian relations are deeply-rooted.

During a joint news conference with his Algerian Counterpart Ramtan Lamamra in Damascus on Monday, Al-Mikdad said that Algeria supported the Syrian people during the years of the crisis in Syria and it condemned the terrorism and the western sanctions imposed on the country.

“We discussed the distinguished bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and the ways of developing them… These meetings serve the interests of the Syrian and Algerian peoples and the real goals of our nation and our peoples and for all those who seek dignity, liberation, independence and sovereignty in all parts of the world,” Al-Mikdad said.

He went on to say: “ The relations with Algeria are deeply-rooted in history and it has stood by the Syrian people over the past 11 years. It condemned terrorism and expressed its rejection of the coercive Western economic measures that ware imposed on Syria and exacerbated the suffering of its people and impeded the reconstruction process of what was destroyed by terrorism.”

“The minister Lamamra is visiting Damascus to consult and coordinate with us on the best steps towards the challenges facing the Arab countries, and we welcome any Arab-Arab coordination and any Arab-Arab consultations to reach a united stance to confront them…Everyone must realize that the existence of Syria is very important at the heart of Arab action,” Al-Mikdad added.

In response to a question about Syria’s participation in the upcoming Arab summit in Algeria, Al-Mikdad said: “We must deal with matters in a realistic way and to think about the pressures that are being exerted at various levels in order to resolve many regional and international issues. There are some measures that have been taken in complete contradiction with this fact. Those who imposed these measures bear the responsibility, and these measures were imposed under international pressures and certain circumstances.

He indicated that the main concern of Syria under the leadership of President Bashar Al-Assad is the interest of the Arab nation, the strengthening of solidarity and joint Arab action, and the unification of the Arab position in the face of common challenges.

Lamamra: Syria’s absence from the Arab League harms common Arab Action

On his part, Lamamra said that Algeria and Syria are two brotherly countries that share glories and heroic deeds.

“Today, I had the honor of meeting President Bashar al-Assad and I conveyed to him a written message from his brother, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and he gave me a response to the message and to all issues of common interest between the two brotherly countries. In all fields,” lamamra said.

He went on to say: “ I discussed with Al-Mikdad many issues that require consultation and coordination, including the current situation in the Arab world or the trends that currently affect the international relations as a result of relations between major countries and the consequences of the Corona pandemic and some other negative phenomena on the international scene, mainly the spread of terrorism in a number of regions of the world. We are confronting terrorism nationally, continentally and internationally.”

The Algerian minister indicated that bilateral relations and the need to encourage businessmen from both sides to deepen economic and trade exchanges were also discussed.

“ Work is currently underway to prepare for the meetings of the Higher Joint Committee for Cooperation between the two brotherly countries and to ratify a number of existing agreements in a way that contributes to the development of and expanding bilateral cooperation, “ Lamamra added.

“We agreed to consolidate economic and trade cooperation to serve the interests of the peoples of Algeria and Syria,” Lamamra went on to say.

He reiterated that Syria’s absence from the Arab League harms common Arab Action.

Basma Qaddour & Hamda Mustafa