Diplomacy Only Solution to Syria Crisis: Iran’s Deputy FM
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian stressed that the Syrian crisis should be resolved only through a political approach.
"We believe it is necessary to push forward the political process, and the Geneva talks are the only way to resolve the Syrian issue," Amir Abdollahian told Sputnik recently after a meeting with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Moscow.
He further reaffirmed Iran’s support for the Syrian government and nation in their fight against terrorist groups.
"We will continue to support Assad and the Syrian people in their struggle against terrorism, and we will make efforts to ensure that political negotiations are successful," Amir Abdollahian said.
The negotiations, aimed at finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria, began on April 13. A few days later, however, the main foreign-backed opposition group, known as the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), walked out of the discussions to protest what it called the Damascus government’s violation of a cessation of hostilities. The ceasefire went into effect on February 27 across Syria.
The peace talks will reportedly resume in the Swiss city of Geneva on May 10.
However, an escalation in rocket attacks by Takfiri terrorists in recent weeks has left the ceasefire in tatters.
Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. Damascus accuses Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar of funding and arming anti-Syria terrorist groups, including Daesh.
According to a February report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.
