Dr. Fayssal Mikdad, Foreign and Expatriates Minister, met on Monday with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola, Téte António, within the framework of the High-Level Meeting to Commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the First Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Talks during the meeting dealt with means of enhancing solidarity between NAM member states and ways to develop and consolidate bilateral relations and to coordinate stances at the multilateral international forums.
The Angolan Minister affirmed his country’s solidarity with Syria in its war against terrorism, expressing deep concern over the spread of terrorism phenomenon in the African continent.
Minister Mikdad, for his part, underlined the necessity to enhance cooperation between the two friendly countries in all domains in a way that would serve the interests of their peoples.
Mikdad also met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin,who heads the Russian delegation, as both sides underlined the importance to further develop bilateral relations and to implement the directives agreed upon by President Bashar al-Assad and President Vladimir Putin during President al-Assad’s recent visit to Moscow.
Mikdad highlighted the significance of the achievements made through the Syrian-Russian cooperation in various domains, particularly in the war against terrorism.
He hailed the participation of the Russian Federation in Belgrade Summit as an observer state in the Non-Aligned Movement, which enhances the feasibility and effectiveness of the movement.
The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the level of relations between the two countries and the cooperation in the field of international organizations, including the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations.
Minister Mikdad met with head of the South African delegation to the conference, Alvin Botes, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, as the two sides discussed developing relations between the two friendly countries and the importance of implementing the agreements signed during the recent visit of the Vice President of the Republic of South Africa to Damascus and revitalizing the joint committee to implement what was agreed upon in various fields.
The Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Minister expressed Syria’s gratitude for the role played by South Africa in support for Syria, particularly in its war against terrorism, referring to the challenges which Syria has been facing due to the Turkish, US and Israeli occupation of parts of its territories and the unilateral coercive measures imposed on it by Western states.
Mikdad also met Khalif Abdi Omar, Minister of Commerce and Industry in Somalia, where the Somali minister explained the developments of the situation in his country and its keenness to deepen its relations with Syria and its standing by its side in all international forums.
In this framework, Minister Mikdad affirmed Syria’s support for Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Another meeting was held between Mikdad and Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh where the situation in the Horn of Africa and the consolidation of security and stability there were the main points of discussion.
Minister Saleh condemned the terrorist war on Syria and expressed Eritrea’s desire to develop its political, economic and cultural relations with Syria, stressing the importance of exchanging support in international and regional organizations.
Mikdad shed light on the achievements that Syria has made in its war on terrorism, and stressed that Syria is capable of ending the Turkish and American occupation of parts of its lands.
He also tackled the effects and repercussions of the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States and Western countries on Syria.
The meetings were attended by Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Dr. Bashar al-Jaafari, Director of the Private Office Department Dr. Abdullah Hallaq, chargé d’affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Serbia, Dr. Ammar Awad, and Amid Hamdan from Syria’s Embassy in Belgrade.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)