Al-Miqdad in the People’s Assembly: Syria’s foreign policy prioritizes national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and liberation of every occupied inch of land

On June 20th, the People’s Assembly (Parliament) held its seventeenth session of the sixth regular session of the third legislative session, headed by Hammouda Sabbagh, Speaker of the Assembly. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Faisal al-Miqdad, stressed in a presentation before the People’s Assembly that Syria’s foreign policy will remain based on the priorities of national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and integrity, the liberation of every occupied inch, the complete elimination of terrorist groups and the rejection of partition projects. 

Al-Miqdad stressed that Syria’s aspiration is to set up strong and constructive relations with its Arab brothers and with the world in a manner that respects the principles of sovereignty, independence and non-interference in internal affairs.

Al-Miqdad pointed out that Syria’s steadfastness was thanks to its valiant armed forces, the wisdom of its leader, the cohesion of its national institutions, including the People’s Assembly. He highlighted the support of allies and friends who stood by us because of their belief in the justice of our position, our cause and our war against terrorism and extremism.

Al-Miqdad said: “We are all aware that we are facing great challenges on the economic and social levels in a country that has lived through more than ten years, the pain of an unprecedented terrorist war. Today we are still dealing with unusual challenges, foremost among which is a wide series of unilateral coercive economic measures imposed by the United States and the European Union, which reached an unprecedented extent by targeting the sectors of banking, energy, investment, import and export, communications, air, sea and land transport. These illegal sanctions played a pivotal role in depriving the Syrian people of their basic rights to life, especially their right to obtain medicine, health care, and adequate food, in addition to their right to adequate resources of water, electricity, communications, and internal and external movement.”

Al-Miqdad stressed that Syria is making every effort within the framework of its tasks and Arab and international relations and in cooperation with the private and national sector and with friends and external partners in order to restore capacity of recovery, reconstruction and return to the path of sustainable development. 

Al-Miqdad said that Syria seeks to immediately and unconditionally lift all  unilateral coercive economic measures imposed on it, especially in the sectors of banking, air and maritime transport, communications, energy and oil, in addition to enhancing opportunities for exchange and trade, economic, industrial and agricultural cooperation with many friendly countries. 

Al-Miqdad also stressed that the US and Turkish occupation forces must leave all Syrian lands, in order to re-establish the control of the Syrian state over all these areas, rebuild and maintain oil and gas stations, and direct their resources to the benefit of the Syrian people. 

Al-Miqdad pointed out that the separatist groups’ conspiracy against the interests of the homeland puts them in the enemy’s place and that their only choice is to return to the national conscience because the United States has disappointed everyone who allied with it against his homeland.

Al-Miqdad added: “You have followed the course of the eighth round of the work of the committee to discuss the constitution that was held recently in Geneva, and we still see, as the President stressed, that the main dilemma that stands before the work of this committee is the presence of a party named by Turkey that is still insisting on putting forward or opposing ideas in a manner that serves the agenda of external interference in the Syrian affairs and in the process of writing the constitution without respecting the aspirations of all Syrians and their vision for a better future in which peace, justice, stability, security and prosperity for all in Syria.

Al-Miqdad indicated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates continues to raise the issue of the Turkish occupation and aggression in various diplomatic and international forums. 

Al-Miqdad asserted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates attaches the utmost importance to shed light on the government’s plans in the field of securing the safe and voluntary return of all displaced Syrians inside and outside the country.

Al-Miqdad indicated that continuing the path of national reconciliations is a constant policy for Syria, because for years it has accomplished important achievements at the national social and economic level.

Al-Miqdad pointed out that the latest amnesty decree differs from previous ones and is exceptional in its legal, social and political nature, as it reflects an advanced stage and a fundamental turning point in the framework of the President’s continuous efforts, which reflects a real will to consolidate the concepts of reconciliation and tolerance

Al-Miqdad made it clear that confronting the danger of (Israel) and its aggression and occupation of the Arab lands in Palestine, the Golan and other occupied lands in southern Lebanon remains at the top of Syria’s foreign policy priorities. 

Al-Miqdad stressed that the Arab-Israeli conflict will remain the main concern of Syrian foreign policy and in relations with countries of the world. 

Al-Miqdad reiterated that Damascus is open to all Arab brothers, including those countries with which we differed during the years of the crisis. 

Al-Miqdad made it clear that Syria did not hesitate to express its support for the Russian special military operation in defense of the right of friendly Russia to protect its security, independence, stability, and territorial integrity. 

Al-Miqdad pointed out that whoever reads history and common geography with impartiality and realism will reach an absolute conviction that the United States has not and will never abandon the aggressive and expansionist policy towards Russia, China and all countries that are not under Western hegemony, nor from targeting security and stability in Eurasia and obliterating geopolitical considerations. 

“We realize that we do not live in an ideal world, but we are aware that it is no longer possible for Russia as a people and leadership to wait until NATO missiles are installed on its borders,” Al-Miqdad said. 

O. al-Mohammad / Inas Abdulkareem