Sanctions and terrorism remain a major challenge facing Syria, say foreign ministers of the guarantor countries of the Astana Process

New York, ST) – The foreign ministers of the guarantor countries of the Astana Process (Russia, Iran, and Turkey) confirmed that the sanctions imposed by Western countries and the continued presence of terrorist organizations still represent the main challenges facing Syria.

IRNA quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian as saying after a meeting that included him alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Turkish regime’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and then Geir Pedersen, the United Nations special envoy to Syria, joined him in New York: We discussed the latest situations and problems which the Syrian people are facing during the meeting. “It was emphasized that the economic problem, the sanctions imposed by Western countries, terrorism and the terrorist organization “ISIS” present in parts of Syria, still constitute the main challenges in this country”,  he added.

Abdollahian  also asked the representative of the United Nations for the organization to present a plan It provides financial support for the infrastructure necessary for the return of Syrian refugees and displaced persons to their country.

Abdullahian said: Solutions have been proposed to reduce the border problems between Syria and Turkey. “We hope that we will be able to solve these problems in the near future through the continuation of the Astana meetings or the quadripartite formula between Iran, Syria, Russia and Turkey”, he added.

For its part, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement: During the meeting, there was a deep exchange of views on developments in the situation in Syria, with a focus on the tasks of ensuring solid stability there. It noted that the pioneering role of the Astana formula was emphasized and the efforts of the three guarantor countries to continue coordinated efforts to help resolve the crisis in Syria on the basis of a strict commitment to respecting its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

The Ministry added: It was stressed that what is required is to mobilize aid to Syria from abroad for its reconstruction, and to intensify efforts for the return of refugees to their homeland.

The Ministry indicated in its statement that following the tripartite ministerial meeting, the ministers held consultations with the United Nations Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, and during the consultations the issue of activating the political process led and achieved by the Syrians themselves with the support of the United Nations was discussed, and the task of arranging an effective activity for the Constitution Discussion Committee in Syrian.

The statement added: Issues related to providing humanitarian aid to all Syrians who need it were studied in accordance with the norms and principles of international humanitarian law and without any discrimination or politicization.

Raghda Sawas