Reception held on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of South Africa

Damascus (ST): The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Damascus held a reception on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the country’s National Day, at the Damascus Sheraton Hotel.

The Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, Barry Philip Gilder, stated in a speech that the celebration is on the occasion of Freedom Day, which literally and symbolically turned the page on centuries of colonialism and apartheid, and that it is a tribute to the friends who supported his country’s struggle, including Syria.

Ambassador Gilder affirmed that the relations between South Africa and Syria are firm and close, based on friendship and loyalty, as his country, never closed its embassy in Damascus over the past twelve years.He expressed  his gratitude to the Syrian government and people for their boundless hospitality, the respect they show for his country and their sympathy for their struggle against the challenges that are facing them.

The ambassador pointed out that his country’s foreign policy stresses the need to seek peace and support peaceful solutions to conflicts all over the world and encourages negotiations, stressing support for the independence and territorial integrity of Syria and support for efforts seeking to rebuild it after the destruction caused by the war and the recent natural disaster and opposition to unilateral sanctions.

For his part, the Director of the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Imad Mustafa, affirmed that the relations between the two countries are historical and have extended since the years of struggle and then the years of state building that led to solid, continuous and sustainable relations, pointing out that Syria for many years and decades supported with full force the struggle and determination of the South African people for liberation and the elimination of racial discrimination.

K.Q.