Damascus, SANA – Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al- Moallem, on Sunday received UN Special Envoy to Syria Stafan De Mistura and the accompanying delegation.
De Mistura presented a detailed review of the meetings held on 29 and 30 of October, 2015, in Vienna on the crisis in Syria and the main points that were contained in the joint statement issued following these meetings.
Al-Moallem expressed importance of many points contained in Vienna Statement but he also expressed wonder that the Statement did not include obliging the countries known for their support to terrorism to implement the UN Security Council resolutions related to counterterrorism as to make efforts for counterterrorism effective and the talks on ceasefire become useful.
He stressed Syria’s continuing to combat terrorism, highlighting the importance of what Russia in cooperation with Iran and the Lebanese Resistance are doing in this regard.
Al-Moallem affirmed that each effort for counterterrorism that is not achieved in coordination with the Syrian government deviates from the goal of counterterrorism and violates the goals of the UN Charter and principles.
He reiterated Syria’s readiness to cooperate with the Special Envoy to Syria in the efforts for counterterrorism and launching an inter-Syrian dialogue.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad, Assistant Foreign Minister Dr. Ayman Sousan and FM Advisor Ahmed Arnous.
Last September, al-Moallem stressed during his meeting with De Mistura that counterterrorism in Syria is a priority being the entrance for a political solution to the crisis and it also meets the aspirations of the Syrian people in achieving security and stability.
Rasha Milhem/ Barry