Amir-Abdollahian, Al-Assad discuss enhancing bilateral ties
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad discuss the expanding of bilateral relations between their countries.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, in Damascus, Syria
The Islamic Republic of Iran sees the security and progress of Syria as its own security and progress, and it will continue strongly supporting Damascus, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Saturday during a meeting with President Bashar Al-Assad in the Syrian capital.
The top Iranian diplomat touched on the good and close consultations, as well as the cooperation, between his country's and Syria's officials, especially at the level of his ministry, underlining that his visit to Syria came in line with the continuation and completion of the talks and exchanging of views between Tehran and Damascus regarding mutual, regional, and international interest.
Moreover, Amir-Abdollahian underlined that ties between Iran and Syria were growing, stressing the need for the two countries to bolster their ties in all areas of mutual interest.
The Iranian FM then underscored that Al-Assad visiting Iran at the invitation of his counterpart would pave the way for more bolstered friendly and fraternal ties between the two countries in various fields while revealing that his country was ready to sign a comprehensive long-term cooperation program between the two states.
It is necessary for Tehran and Damascus to convene and lay the groundwork for bilateral and multilateral cooperation toward the reconstruction of Syria, Amir-Abdollahian said.
On the other hand, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad stressed that his country would never forget Iran's support, calling the Islamic Republic the closest to his country. "We will not forget the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Furthermore, he touched on Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's upcoming visit to Syria, underlining Syria's readiness and seriousness to maximize the trip's success.
It is highly necessary and important for Damascus and Tehran to continue carrying out consultation and coordination, Al-Assad said, highlighting that they were highly significant between the two countries, especially when it comes to strategic bilateral and regional issues.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is Syria's partner and we will be together and support each other in various fields," the Syrian President concluded.
Furthermore, Al-Assad underlined his country's position regarding the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people, with the Syrian President talking with the Iranian foreign minister about the Palestinian cause during their meeting.
Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad stressed the importance of the alliance between Iran and Syria, asking journalists, "Imagine if Syria did not have an ally like the Islamic Republic. What would have happened?"
The Syrian minister touched on the service crises suffered by the people of the Syrian regions in the north, near the Turkish and Iraqi borders, as a result of the practices of the armed groups sponsored by the US occupation forces.
Regarding Turkey moving toward restoring relations with Damascus, which began months ago under the auspices of Russia and Iranian support, Mekdad underlined that Syria, "in all its moves since 2011 until this moment, seeks to end terrorism that has perturbed our relations with Turkey."
"The appropriate conditions must be realized in order to hold meetings at higher levels with the Turkish leadership," Mekdad said.
"It is not possible to talk about restoring normal relations with Turkey without uprooting the occupation," he added.
He also said that Damascus' coordination with Tehran in various regional and international frameworks was an indication of Iran's commitment to Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Amir-Abdollahian and Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ayman Sosan discussed in a meeting in Tehran on Monday the latest developments in Syria and the region and ways to develop the bilateral ties between the two nations.
Amir-Abdollahian stressed the importance of the outstanding relations between Iran and Syria and the necessity of maintaining economic cooperation and expanding it between the two countries in order to utilize their capabilities and establish stability, security, and peace in the region.
On his part, Sosan discussed developments in Syria and West Asia at large. He emphasized the significance of the strategic affinity between Syria and Iran and proposed mechanisms for further developing bilateral relations to face common challenges.
Syria has witnessed in the recent period an increased number of Iranian investors establishing businesses and creating firms to operate in the Syrian economy, most notably what is referred to as the "reconstruction" of the country following the destruction caused by the international war waged on it.
Iranian companies entering the Syrian market operate in various areas, including construction, and movie and TV production.
The Syrian people have for years been the target of a Western-led onslaught that heavily weakened the government's capacities to rebuild the nation, which has made it difficult for public works to attend to reparations and emergencies.
