Al-Moallem: Syria to Press ahead with Fight against Terrorism in Parallel with Political Process

DAMASCUS, (ST)- The Syrian people, government and army are pressing ahead with the battle against terrorism and terrorist groups that continue to get support from some countries like Turkey which keeps facilitating the flow of terrorists into Syria and providing them with sophisticated weapons, Deputy Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid al-Moallem has stressed, noting that this support necessitates an international stance to guarantee respect for Security Council resolutions on terrorism fighting.

 Al-Moallem’s made the remarks during his meeting on Thursday with China’s Special Envoy for Syria Xie Xiaoyan and the accompanying delegation. The meeting touched upon regional developments, the crisis in Syria and means to find a solution that preserves the Syrian people’s interests and their right to maintain their independent decision and sovereignty over the Syrian lands.

“Syria’s fight against terrorism will continue in parallel with the country’s political process in Geneva,” al-Moallem said, stressing the Syrian government’s keenness on doing its duty in providing assistance to its citizens.

On his part, the Chinese envoy affirmed his country’s support for restoring security and stability to Syria and for the intra-Syrian dialogue as to solve the crisis in the country. He said that Beijing also backs the Syrian people’s right to chose the solution that preserves Syria’s territorial integrity without foreign interference.

 Xiaoyan said that China appreciates the Syrian government’s achievements in terms of delivering assistance to the Syrians in different areas, asserting that his country will keep supporting Syria until peace and security is restored nationwide.

Shaaban: We seek to make best of every chance to help political solution be successful

Later on the day Presidential Political and Media Advisor Bouthaina Shaaban held a meeting with the Chinese envoy during which she affirmed that Syria seeks to make the best of every possible chance to make the political solution to the crisis a success including through dialogue, local reconciliations and fight against terrorism, SANA reported.

She presented to the Chinese official and the accompanying delegation a full review of the crisis in Syria and the fault elements in the American and international attitudes.

She clarified that there are regional factors influencing the crisis that are out of the Syrians’ control, citing mainly the funding, arming and facilitating cross-border movement of terrorists from Turkey and the non-compliance with the Security Council resolution no 2253.

Shaaban exchanged views with the Chinese envoy on the means to push the peaceful solution forward with keeping the Syrian sovereignty, territorial integrity and independent decision intact.

Xie Xiaoyan, on his part, said he hoped for more positive change in the American attitude and for the political solution to have the upper hand in the end, stressing that China will do all that is in its power to reach that goal.

He also affirmed that the Syrian people are the only ones entitled to determine their country’s future without any foreign interference and that Syria’s territorial integrity must be respected.

He said the governments of China and Syria surely share many viewpoints regarding the major issues, mainly pushing the political solution, maintaining the cessation of hostilities and boosting the positive spirit present today to move ahead and overcome the obstacles.

Later in statements to reports following the meeting, Shaaban considered the Chinese envoy’s visit to Syria, which is his first, as a “very important” and “advanced” step as it serves for consolidating the Syrian-Russian-Iranian-Chinese coordination.

China appointed its first special envoy for Syria on March 29. Xie Xiaoyan met Dr. Bashar al-Jaafari, head of the Syrian Arab Republic’ delegation to Geneva talks two days ago and both sides discussed the process for the political settlement of the crisis in Syria and potential mechanisms for overcoming the obstacles that hinder dialogue and for achieving tangible results in the current round of dialogue.

 Hamda Mustafa