Mikdad: Current Arab situation is promising in terms of deepening relations

Damascus, (SANA) – The current Arab situation is promising in terms of deepening relations between Arab countries, said Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Dr. Fayssal Mikdad.

In an interview with the RT channel, Mikdad added “The meeting between President Bashar al-Assad and the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, was very warm and reflected the historical relations binding the two countries.”

“We feel from the Crown Prince’s words that the future of relations is promising and they will return to normal on all levels,” he said.

Regarding the relationship with Qatar, the Minister said: “We must not go back to the past. We, as President al-Assad stated, live in the present and we must look to the future, and we hope to overcome this.”

Regarding the relationship with Egypt, Mikdad made it clear that the goal is to proceed to restore full relations, but sometimes diplomatic matters take a while.

“President Bashar al-Assad and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi made a phone call  after the recent earthquake, and there are ongoing contacts between them, and on this basis, television images or news information alone should not be considered. In diplomatic relations, there is something that is said and another that is not announced,” the Foreign Minister said.

He added that “we are facing a promising situation in terms of deepening relations between Arab countries, taking into account the specific conditions of each Arab country.”

According to Mikdad, the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States against Syria contradict the international law.

He refuted the US claims that its forces are in Syria to fight terrorism, adding that their presence there is an integral part of this terrorism, and the US is the one that operates those terrorists according to its agendas and interests.

On the other hand, he reaffirmed that the Western states are behind the lack of an appropriate environment or conditions for the return of Syrian refugees.

“They are responsible for destroying the infrastructure, factories, neighborhoods and economic institutions in Syria through their support and arming of terrorists,” he stressed.

The Foreign and Expatriates Minister renewed the call on all the Syrians abroad to return in light of the issuance of all decisions and decrees that ensure them a decent life and a dignified return.

Manar Salameh/ Ruaa al-Jazaeri