Geneva, SANA –Speaker of the People’s Assembly Mohammad Jihad al-Laham met a number of heads of parliaments participating in the 131st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly currently held in Geneva.
Al-Laham met with Speaker of the Iranian Shura Council Ali Larijani, discussing the draft resolutions listed on the Assembly’s agenda and the IPU’s potential role in supporting countries’ legitimacy and sovereignty and rallying forces to combat terrorism.
The two sides stressed that international organizations, particularly the IPU, must consecrate countries’ rights to sovereignty and independence and supporting peaceful solutions for issues in them without any foreign interference.
They also affirmed the need for the countries participating in the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS to abide by Security Council resolutions and international law.
Al-Laham also met Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri, discussing with him bilateral relations and the threats to Syria and Lebanon posed by the terrorism of ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, and other terrorist organizations.
They called for uniting efforts to confront extremism in the Middle East before its threat expands beyond control.
Another meeting was held between al-Laham and Andrey Klimov, Deputy Head of the International Affairs Committee at of the Russian Federation Council, with the two sides affirming the strength of Syrian-Russian relations and the need to continue coordination regarding regional and international issue.
Al-Laham voiced Syria’s appreciation for Russia’s positions regarding the terrorism affecting it, asserting that those who really want to combat terrorism must cooperate with the Syrian and Russian government, while Klimov reiterated Russia’s support for the Syrian people and government in their war against terrorism.
Speaker al-Laham participated in the 195th session of the IPU’s governing council, in which several issues related to the IPU’s performance and activities were discussed.
Hazem Sabbagh