Al-Miqdad: Relations between Syria and Russia are strategic and deeply rooted

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Faisal Al-Miqdad, affirmed that the relations between Syria and Russia are strategic and deeply rooted and will deepen with the coming stage.

Dr. Al-Miqdad confirmed that the countries that supported terrorism and committed crimes in Syria must pay the price for that, and the West must correct its murderous approach in the world.

In an interview with SANA correspondent in Moscow on Saturday at the end of his visit to the Russian capital, Dr. Al-Miqdad said: “To renew, promote and push these relations forward is important for the Syrian and Russian sides. This was the essence of discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reflecting what  President Bashar al-Assad and President Vladimir Putin expressed.”

Al-Miqdad noted that the discussions with Russian officials centered on the current situation in Syria and the support that Russia provides to Syria in the framework of combating terrorism. We also discussed economic, cultural and scientific cooperation between the two countries, and this will deepen in the next stage, Al-Miqdad said.

Dr. Al-Miqdad pointed out that the Syrian people are grateful for what friends, especially Russia, offer them at all times. Many Syrian delegations visited the Russian Federation weeks ago with the aim of deepening commercial, economic, cultural, scientific and developmental relation. I noticed real development in these relations and  Syrians will witness that in the coming weeks and months.

In response to a question, Al-Miqdad confirmed that Syria suffers from terrorism and occupation and the sanctions imposed by the United States. The unilateral coercive measures against Syria are inhumane measures that rise to the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He wondered: “When the Syrian child, the Syrian woman and the Syrian elders go hungry and the Syrian citizen in general, what does the United States of America gain ”.

Al-Miqdad indicated that American policies are inhumane, calling on Western countries to “correct their deadly approach with regard to the developing countries of the world and not to search for their interests through inhumane methods that are considered contrary to international humanitarian law.”

Regarding reconstruction, Dr. Al-Miqdad stated that the destruction that Syria witnessed at the hands of terrorist groups and on the instructions of their operators in Western countries, whether in the United States or in Western Europe and some countries in the region, was huge. Therefore these parties have to pay the price of these crimes if they want to be guilt free  from now until centuries to come ”.

Regarding the Russian position rejecting the American, Turkish and Israeli occupation of parts of Syrian lands, Dr. Al-Miqdad pointed out that “Russia’s policy is declared and adopted in the UN Security Council, in other United Nations institutions and in regional and international forums. It applies what it says and believes in justice and in international law. But Western countries use international law to practice hypocrisy, lies, and the double standards policy. That is why our relations continue to flourish with the Russian Federation and other friendly countries including China, Iran and other countries in Latin America such as Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia and others. We all believe in a future in which humanity enjoys equality, justice and comprehensive development. “

Al-Miqdad stressed that the outgoing US President Donald Trump’s administration has caused unimaginable destruction in the world. The relationship between the United States and the countries of the world has become not based on mutual consent and desire, but rather on American threats, whether by imposing unilateral coercive sanctions or through military pressure.”

Al-Miqdad clarified that if the new American administration wants to work for a safe world away from threats and away from  wars, it must eliminate these policies and follow another policy consistent with the United Nations Charter and with the principle of international cooperation in various fields as well as with the sovereignty and independence of world countries.

In response to a question about the behavior of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and its bias against Syria and the attempts of some to divert it from its correct course, Al-Miqdad said: “This organization did not act against Syria only, but also against the Russian Federation. It has become a politicized organization run by Western countries as they want.”

 “Politicizing the organization is a very dangerous matter that will cancel its role. So, some countries that have not yet joined the organization will not be enthusiastic to join it. This also will contribute to deporting countries that are now members when they will feel that they are neutral and have nothing to do with the work of their technical secretariat”, Al-Miqdad added.

Regarding the work of the Constitution Discussion Committee, Dr. Al-Miqdad stressed that the Syrian people want a Syrian constitution laid down by the Syrians. It has to be a constitution that expresses the sovereignty of Syria and the unity of its lands and people and does not open the way for any external interference. All of us support that the Syrian constitution has to be the decision maker and to  be drafted according to the interests of the Syrian people without any external interference.

At the end of his interview, Al-Miqdad congratulated Christians in the World and Syria on the occasion of Christmas and New Year, calling for the respect of the values of justice, peace, faith and equality that Jesus Christ brought to spread them all over the world.

Inas Abdulkareem