Iran Criticizes One-Sided Handling of Syrian Issues
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Focusing on only a single issue in addressing the Syrian problems and inattention to the other cases, such as the situation of the displaced people or the exchange of prisoners, would fail to gain Syria’s trust in the international efforts, Iran’s foreign minister warned.
In a meeting in Damascus on Wednesday evening, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad discussed the ways to expand ties and cooperation between Tehran and Damascus as well as the regional developments and the international situation.
Referring to the steady efforts by the officials of the two countries at different levels, Amirabdollahian described Tehran-Damascus ties as excellent and strategic.
He underlined the role of the foreign ministries of Iran and Syria in pursuing the bilateral agreements and putting them into practice.
He also said the foreign ministries must pave the way for trade and economic cooperation between the two nations so that their economic ties and trade exchanges would reach its rightful place.
The top Iranian diplomat also called for the efforts to explore new areas of cooperation.
Describing the popular ties between the two nations as important, Amirabdollahian said that with the expansion of interaction and trade between the people of Iran and Syria, tourism cooperation, including religious and recreational tourism, will expand and both countries will benefit from this economically.
Amirabdollahian then referred to his negotiations with the UN secretary general’s envoy for Syria, saying lopsided focus on one issue in Syria and ignoring the other cases, particularly the need to address the situation of refugees as well as the exchange of prisoners and the injured, cannot win Syria’s trust in the international efforts.
For his part, the Syrian foreign minister expressed pleasure at the close viewpoints of the two countries about regional crises, saying, “We have always had the same positions in the resistance front.”
Mekdad described as very positive the results of the Astana peace process aimed at resolving the Syria issue, especially the presence of Iran in the process, the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website reported.
He also stressed the need for the Arab countries to mend their ties with Iran, adding that Iran wishes well for its neighbors.
Mekdad noted that Syria is pleased with the contacts between Iran and Saudi Arabia and hopes that the regional and international situation would help improve the ties between Tehran and Riyadh.
He finally highlighted the importance of economic cooperation between Syria and Iran under the pressure of foreign sanctions.
