Sousan (vice foreign and expatriates minister of Syria) in a press conference in Astana:

Head of the delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic to the 19th international meeting in the Astana format, Dr. Ayman Sousan, during a press conference:

• The world is witnessing many escalations due to the mentality of hegemony and exclusivity in the international decision that leads the policies of the American administration. Syria has suffered from these policies that aim to impose guardianship upon it in order to confiscate its national decision.
• Any aggression or infringement on Syria’s territories is a violation of its sovereignty and a strongly condemned act. Syria will do whatever it takes to defend its borders and territorial integrity. We tell others who still have some illusions about their expansionist projects that there will only be one united Syria.
• The American administration used all its lies, fabrications, and media misinformation and brought terrorists from more than ninety countries to kill Syrians and destroy their achievements and it continues today with its economic terrorism through unilateral coercive measures and the theft of Syrian oil and wheat.

• The illegal foreign presence on Syrian territory is a violation of international law, and aims to impede stability in Syria.
• The pretexts that the Turkish occupation uses for its policies in Syria no longer deceive anyone, and any statements in order to gain a minimum level of credibility must be accompanied by actions on the ground.
• Syria continues to work to provide the best ways to facilitate the return of the displaced to their cities and villages, and has taken the necessary measures to achieve this.
• Those who hinder the reconstruction process by exploiting the suffering of refugees to serve their projects should stop doing so, and accept the defeat of their project in Syrian.
• Syria confirms its commitment to providing aid to its citizens in all parts of the country who need it, and is ready to cooperate with all other parties to supplement their efforts in this regard on the basis of national sovereignty.
• Syria stresses that the solution to the crisis is in accordance with a Syrian-Syrian dialogue led by Syria without any external interference.It is also necessary to provide appropriate conditions for the work of the Constitution Discussion Committee away from pressure.
• Astana formula contributed to reducing the terrorist presence in Syria, and it could have achieved more if the Turkish regime had adhered to the outputs and decisions of Astana and the understandings reached.
• The final statement meets Syria’s aspirations by emphasizing the continuation of the fight against terrorism, and work to enhance stability in it. The Turkish regime must abide by what has been agreed upon.

Raghda Sawas, Najla Al-Khoury