MOSCOW, BEIJING.(ST)_ Iran and Russia on Thursday renewed rejection of any foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs, stressing that dialogue is the only way to resolve its crisis.
“ The crisis in Syria should be resolved through Syrian political groups, in partnership with the Syrian government,” said chairman of the Iranian- Russian parliamentary friendship committee in the Iranian Shoura council Mehdi Sanae during his meeting with the deputy chairman of the Russian Duma council Nicolai Ageshev, adding that dialogue is the sole way to settle the crisis and reach a fair mechanism to this end .
“ The events in Syria reveal the fact that harmony between Russia, Iran and China is, but , vital and that the USA should not be permitted to sweep towards the Middle East and Russia,” the Iranian official said , calling on these countries, being the three major forces in the region, to from a one single bloc.
For his part, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Duma council stressed Russia unwavering position concerning the crisis in Syria. “ The Syrian sides are able to solve their country ‘s issues and the interference of the USA and other countries in Syria will aggravate the crisis,” the Russian official said.
He underlined the importance of relations between Russia and Iran, the strategic aspects of bilateral cooperation relations and the need to strengthen them.
For their part, China and Russia stressed the need of solving the crisis in Syria peacefully without external interference.
Iran ‘s deputy foreign minister for Asia and the Pacific Abbas Araqji said that he “ exchanged during his meeting in Beijing with the Chinese foreign minister Yang Je Chi, in the context of the 11st meeting of the Iranian- Russia political consultation committee, view points on recent developments, pertaining to the middle east especially the crisis in Syria and that stress was laid on solving this crisis peacefully , without foreign intervention”, adding that: “ Stances of Tehran and Beijing are identical concerning regional issues.
Araqji added that stress was laid during his talks with the Chinese FM on the need of halting violence and dispatching weapons and money to various armed groups in Syria, noting that the Syrians should decide their fate by themselves.
Noteworthy that the political consultative committee between Iran and China meets annually at the level of Assistant Foreign Ministries.
However, volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached USD 45 billion last year.
Meantime, the Special Representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov stressed that Russia insists on the implementation of the provisions of the Geneva statement to resolve the crisis in Syria, adding that Russia is counting on a new meeting of the International Working Group on Syria.
T. Fateh