Haidar: National Reconciliation Key tool for Solving the Crisis

DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Minister of State for National Reconciliation in the caretaker government Dr Ali Haider stressed that the project of the Ministry of National Reconciliation was found “to confirm that the solution in Syria is political, while fighting against terrorism is the responsibility of the state in times of war and peace.”

During a meeting yesterday with Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa in Damascus Xuan Benfeldt, Haidar stressed that “what is happening in Syria is foreign intervention and that political positions of states are important and must be poured within the framework of solving the crisis in Syria,” adding that “the reconciliation project is a tool for strengthening the internal situation to resolve the crisis in Syria.”

He pointed to the possibility that South Africa government can play an important role in resolving the crisis and “be a mediator with certain parties abroad, especially it has a pioneering experience in the area of reconciliation”.

He expressed keenness to maintain cooperation between the two countries and benefit from South Africa key experience in this area through the introduction of specialized competent human cadres working in the area of national reconciliation and organizing of workshops.

Ambassador Benfeldt stressed his country’s desire to provide any possible assistance to alleviate the effects of the crisis in Syria, based on South Africa’s  history and experience in the field of reconciliation, as well as assisting the Ministry of National Reconciliation in its work field, pointing out that “Syria has started recovering and the return of normal life as evidenced by the progress of the work of South Africa embassy in Damascus.”

T. Fateh