Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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New Delhi, SANA – Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem discussed on Tuesday with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj means to enhance relations between Syria and India, mainly in relation to electricity, petroleum, agriculture, technical and academic cooperation.
Both sides agreed to remove all obstacles standing in the way of boosting bilateral cooperation and work to hold the Syrian-Indian joint committee meeting as soon as possible.
As he briefed the Indian Minister on the situation in the region and the crisis in the country, al-Moallem affirmed that Syria is going ahead with its efforts to combat terrorism and find a political solution to it crisis, and that it is cooperating with the UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura to that effect.
He held the supporters of terrorism, mainly Saudi Arabia and Turkey, responsible for prolonging the crisis, saying “a great deal of the crisis will end if Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other terrorism backers respected the UN Security Council relevant resolutions and ceased their support to terrorism.”
Al-Moallem asserted that it is the right of the Syrian people alone to determine their future.
“Syria will not let the terrorists who failed to achieve their goals by means of force to gain them through the political talks,” he said.
For her part, the Indian Foreign Minister renewed India’s support to Syria for combating terrorism, expressing welcome of the Russian-Syrian coordination in this field.
Swaraj also voiced her country’s support to the Syrian government’s efforts on both the political track and that of combating ISIS and other terrorist organizations.
Al-Moallem arrived in India Monday on a 4-day visit to hold talks with Indian officials about the current situation in the region and the world and means of enhancing bilateral relations between New Delhi and Damascus.
Al-Moallem: Syria determined to know names of opposition delegation that will be negotiated in Geneva
Later, al-Moallem affirmed that the Syrian government is determined to know the names of opposition delegation that would be negotiated in Geneva before going there late this month.
“We have shown our readiness to attend Geneva meetings on the Syrian-Syrian dialogue… the UN Envoy to Syria di Mistura was satisfied with the outcomes of his visit to Damascus and there is a need to know the names of opposition figures as our delegation would not go to hold talks with ghosts,” al-Moallem told SANA correspondent in New Delhi.
He added “during my meetings in India, I heard a support for the Syrian stance, government and President Bashar al-Assad,” affirming that India can play an important and active role in combating terrorism and the track of political solution to the crisis.
“I am very happy with the results of constructive, promising talks with Indian Foreign Minister as both countries took the decision to boost relations and deepen them in all sectors, particularly in oil, gas, electricity, industry and agriculture,” al-Moallem said.
He added that the Indian Foreign Minister showed her support to the Syrian efforts in combating terrorism and the political track and “we proposed holding a security cooperation to protect the two countries, security and stability in the world.”
M. al-Frieh/H. Said/Mazen