Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
ASTANA, SANA- The Final statement of the 22nd international meeting on Syria in ASTANA format condemned the Israeli entity’s recurrent attacks on Syrian territories, affirming adherence to Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey as guarantor countries of the Astana Format issued a final statement following their two-day meeting in Astana.
They expressed their strong condemnation and deep concern over the continued mass killing and criminal attacks by Israel in Gaza as well as Israeli aggression in Lebanon and the West Bank.
The statement called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and reiterated the need for immediate humanitarian aid to Lebanon which suffered from mass civilian casualties and major civilian infrastructure destruction.
It acknowledged the negative impact of the escalation of violence in the Middle East on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. Underscored the urgency for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN agencies and all humanitarian actors to develop an emergency response for those who were forced to cross from Lebanon into the Syrian territory following the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon.
The statement condemned all Israeli military strikes in Syria and considered these actions as a violation of international law, international humanitarian law, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, and recognized them as destabilizing and exacerbating tensions in the region and called for the ceasing of these attacks.
It reaffirmed the need to abide by universally recognized international legal decisions, including the provisions of the relevant UN resolutions rejecting the occupation of the Syrian Golan, first and foremost UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 497, especially that these Israeli decisions and actions in this regard are deemed null and void and of no legal effect.
The statement reaffirmed unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and highlighted that these principles should be universally respected and complied with.
The meeting expressed determination to continue working together to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stand against separatist agendas aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and threatening the national security of the neighbouring countries, including through cross-border attacks and infiltrations.
The statement reiterated opposition to the continued illegal seizure and transfer of oil and other resources that should belong to Syria, underlining the negative impact of these factors, as well as of the unilateral sanctions on the economic situation in Syria.
Mazen Eyon
