Tehran to Support Damascus With Greater Vigor

IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

TEHRAN – Condemning any sanctions against nations in the world, especially Syria, President Rouhani stressed Iran will continue to support the Syrian government and people with greater vigor.

“I believe that the Astana process, as the only successful process in helping to resolve the Syrian crisis peacefully, has made great strides, and maintaining and developing it is the duty of the three friendly and neighboring countries as guarantors of this process,” said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in the virtual meeting on Astana Process on Wednesday.

“At the outset, I would like to emphasize the fundamental and unchangeable principles of our common ground on Syria, namely the need to preserve territorial integrity, national sovereignty, the independence of Syria, and determination the fate of Syria only through the Syrian-Syrian talks without foreign interference,” he added.

“Today we are holding this summit while the world is facing a problem called corona, and the Syrian people are no exception,” Rouhani noted.

“While the coronavirus outbreak has created widespread economic and health problems in the country and Syria needs humanitarian assistance, especially medical and pharmaceutical facilities, the United States has imposed new unilateral and inhuman sanctions [Caesar sanctions] to put pressure on the Syrian people aiming at achieving its illegitimate political aspirations,” he added.

Iranian President stressed, “This action by the United States is a kind of economic terrorism that violates human rights and the sovereignty of nations.”

“Condemning any sanctions against nations in the world, especially Syria, Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes that it will continue to support the Syrian government and people with greater vigor,” Rouhani said.

“These illegitimate and inhumane actions of the U.S. regime will not disrupt the will of the friendly and allied countries of Syria, and the United States cannot achieve its goals through the tools of economic pressure and punishment,” he mentioned.

President Rouhani went on to say, “The issue of internally displaced persons and Syrian refugees is also a very important issue. We and the international community must help return of the displaced to their homes, which is both a humanitarian issue and help return of peace, stability and trust among the Syrian people.”

“Any conditioning of humanitarian aid to achieve political goals will disrupt this process,” he added, saying, “Today, more than nine years have passed from the beginning of the Syrian crisis, and the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the only solution to the Syrian crisis is political. Military solution will not help this crisis.”

“As guarantor countries of the Astana process, we have always supported the Syrian-Syrian talks in the framework of the agreements reached in the Astana process, and we stress the determination to fight ISIL and al-Qaeda and other similar groups throughout the region, including Syria,” the President highlighted.

“Here, I want to appreciate the role of all martyrs in the fight against terrorism, especially Lt. Gen. Qasem Soleimani who was assassinated by the US falsely claiming that is fighting against terrorism,” Rouhani said.

Meanwhile Russian President Vladimir Putin said more crucial steps are being taken towards normalizing the situation in Syria through the tripartite meeting by Russia, Iran, and Turkey.

Putin said that the trilateral summit meetings had reduced the level of violence in Syria.

He said that Russia agrees with Iran’s assessment for the continuation of cooperation in Syria.

He added that the level of violence in Syria has dropped significantly and the activities of ISIS and terrorists in Syria have been reduced.

Referring to Russia intensive cooperation with Turkey regarding the Idlib region, Putin said that we are working together to implement the September 2018 Sochi Agreement and its additional protocol dated March 5, 2020.

He stated that the unilateral sanctions imposed on Syria without the approval of the Security Council have a negative impact on the Syria situation. In fact, these sanctions are illegal.

He pointed out that cooperation among Iran, Russia and Turkey within the framework of the Astana process is stabilizing Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for his part, said that the Astana peace process will play a role in shaping the future of Syria.

The Turkish diplomat delivered a speech in a joint video conference with his Iranian and Russian counterparts, adding that preserving the political unity of Syria and its territorial integrity, establishing security and peace in the state, and dealing with issues permanently is the highest priority of Turkey regarding Syria.