Al-Laham discusses with international MPs enhancing efforts to combat terrorism

Geneva, SANA – Speaker of the People’s Assembly Mohammad Jihad al-Laham discussed on Monday with Chairman of Russian Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko the role of parliamentarian diplomacy in enhancing international efforts to combat terrorism and bolstering international security and peace.

During the meeting on the sidelines of the 133rd Assembly of the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) which began its activities on Saturday in Geneva, al-Laham affirmed that Syrian- Russian cooperation in combating international terrorism is a turning point in the international efforts to face the cancerous phenomenon which is expanding in our region.

He expressed Syria’s appreciation for the effective Russian role in combating terrorism side by side with the Syrian and Iraqi governments.

Countries that criticize the Syrian-Russian cooperation in fighting terrorism and at the same time refuse to coordinate with Syria and Russia in this regard are offering a free service to ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist organizations, he said.

For her part, Matviyenko reaffirmed Russia’s support for the Syrian state and people in their war against terrorism.

Al-Laham reviewed with IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong and IPU President Saber Chowdhury the latest developments in Syria and the region and means to activate the IPU role in supporting the diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts and international disputes in the framework of international law and away from external interferences.

In turn, Chungong and Chowdhury expressed their satisfaction with the level of cooperation between the IPU and the People’s Assembly in Syria.

Speaker al-Laham also discussed with the President of the Armenian National Assembly Galust Sahakyan the bilateral relations and coordination in the international arena.

Sahakyan affirmed that Syria had always been a host country which received refuges from all over the world and today is exposed to a terrorist war that aims at annihilating civilization and culture, adding that Armenia appreciates Syria’s efforts to find a peaceful solution for the crisis in parallel with combating terrorism.

Manar al-Frieh/Manal