Opinions & Interviews

FM: Syria highly appreciates friendship with Belarus

MINSK, 29 July (BelTA) – Syrian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid Al Muallem laid out the steps that contribute to the strengthening of friendship between Belarus and Syria, unlocking the potential of cooperation between the tow countries in an interview with the Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA has learned.

“Belarus and Syria are small countries, but by working together we can do a lot to improve the well-being of our peoples. We agreed with the representatives of Belarus, that in August we will hold a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic and technological cooperation. This is a very important step that will help uncover the potential and strengthen the friendship between our two countries,” Walid Al Muallem said.

Belarus has provided humanitarian aid to Syria. Special attention is given to the project to host Syrian children for recuperation in Belarus. In 2017-2019, over 1,000 Syrian children spent their holidays in Belarus at the expense of the Belarusian side. “Aleksandr Lukashenko's initiative to host Syrian children for recuperation is very important. Children who come to your country are the children of those who died in the fight against terrorists while protecting the freedom and independence of Syria. The Belarusian president assured that the project will be continued,”  Walid Al Muallem said.

According to him, terrorism is the international epidemic; it can spread. So the current fight in Syria is to protect the whole world. “But the efforts of one state are not enough. To defeat this evil, we need international commitments and their fulfillment. A stop must be put to the financing of terrorists and their armament, the spread of terrorist ideology,” Walid Al Muallem noted.

The minister said that today the situation in the country is better than it was last year or several years ago. The country’s authorities hold more than 80% of the territory under control. There are still some terrorist activities in the north-west and north-east part of the country. “We are determined to liberate the state from them. We also insist and will do our best to make all the foreign forces that are illegally present in Syria leave the country. The fight against terrorism will be continued. The authorities will also continue the political process and the program to restore the regions which infrastructure suffered the worst,” Walid Al Muallem said.   

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