Mikdad: Iranian and Russian support enhance Syria’s steadfastness

DAMASCUS – Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad asserted that Iran’s support for Syria and Russia’s direct intervention to fight terrorism have enhanced Syria’s steadfastness.

In an interview with the Iranian al-Alam news agency and reported by SANA, Mikdad said the achievements Russia has made in fighting terrorism debunked the US-led coalition, that only claims to be fighting terrorism but has done nothing actually.

 This coalition, Mikdad added, aims at serving the US’s tools in the region, such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, in addition to destroying Syria and prolonging the war there.

He highlighted that the forces which support terrorism in Syria still bet on the military solution, whereas the Syrian leadership believes in and is ready for the political track that has to be discussed in parallel with fighting terrorism, hoping that “all the honest Syrians join the Syrian Arab Army to fight terrorism.”

The elements of the political solution, the deputy minister said, have become clear, and “the others have but to understand that Syria will not sacrifice its sovereignty and independence under any condition.”

“We will not accept any solution where any of these fundamental elements is not safeguarded,” Mikdad added.

“Otherwise, we are ready from this moment to sit down with the acceptable national opposition, but not any opposition linked to the outside. We are also ready to go for the four groups announced by the international envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura,” he said.

Mikdad pointed out that the Russian side has made an important achievement during Moscow inter-Syrian consultations thanks to its political experience and understanding, stressing the importance of holding Moscow 3.