Syria’s Stance on Political Solution to Crisis, Commitment to Syrian-Led Intra-Syrian Dialogue without Preconditions Reiterated
DAMASCUS, (ST) Deputy Premier, Minister of Foreign affairs and Expatriates Walid al-Moallem on Monday renewed the Syrian stance on political solution in the country and reiterated Syria’s commitment to a Syrian-led Intra-Syrian dialogue without preconditions. He also affirmed the readiness of the Syrian Arab Republic’s delegation to resume Geneva Intra-Syrian talks as from April 15th; that is after the end of the parliamentary elections in Syria.
Al-Moallem made the remarks during his meeting in Damascus on Monday with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura and the accompanying delegation.
De Mistura reviewed the proposed ideas and the exerted efforts to make the forthcoming talks in Geneva on finding a solution to the crisis in Syria a success. He put forward the agenda of the coming round of talks and explained that his tour in the region aimed at holding consultations on this issue.
Al-Moallem, who stressed the Syrian people’s right to determine their future, also affirmed the Syrians’ inevitable victory over ISIS, Jabhat al-Nursa and other terrorist groups which keep violating the cessation of hostilities agreement by orders from their supporters in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and others. He asserted that such violations aim at foiling the Syrian dialogue in Geneva, particularly after the successive gains of the Syrian Arab Army in the battle against terrorism, most recent of which are the achievements in Palmyra and al-Qaryatin cities.
The deputy premier reiterated that Syria will press ahead with fighting terrorism to protect its citizens and that the Syrian government will keep delivering all forms of humanitarian aid to people hit by terrorism and whose suffering was worsened because of incessant terrorist attacks and the western sanctions.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faysal al-Mikdad, Syria’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations Bashar Al-Jaafari and al-Moallem’s Advisor Ahmad Arnous.
Mistura calls for protecting the cessation of hostilities agreement
Talking to reporters following the meeting, de Mistura said his talks with al-Moallem aimed at discussing preparations for the Geneva talks due to be held on April 13th after he returns from his tour.
He said that they also discussed delivering humanitarian aid to besieged areas and to all Syrians in addition to means of increasing the aid, noting that airdropping of aid which took place in Deir Ezzor on Sunday was a promising and significant endeavor by the World Food Program (WFP), adding that this was an initiative by the international community to show commitment to accessing all areas via complicated methods like airdropping.
De Mistura also said that they discussed the importance of protecting and bolstering the cessation of hostilities which he said is fragile yet it remains enduring, voicing hope for ensuring its continuation despite some incidents that should be contained.
On the participation of Syrian Kurds in the Geneva talks, de Mistura said that Kurds are present in several delegations.
Hamda Mustafa