Damascus, SANA -Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Adib Mayyaleh said that despite all circumstances, the Syrian economy remained firm thanks to the steadfastness of the people and the army and their cohesion with their leadership.
Meeting Archbishop of Nova Justiniana and All Cyprus Chrysostomos II and the accompanying delegation on Saturday, Mayyaleh referred to the huge damage suffered by the Syrian economy due to the terrorist war against Syria and the unjust economic blockade imposed on it.
The Minister called upon the Archbishop and the accompanying delegation to convey the true image of the situation in Syria and the suffering of the Syrian people from the crimes of terrorist organizations which are backed by Turkey, the United States and the Zionist entity.
For his part, Archbishop Chrysostomos II affirmed solidarity of Cyprus and all peace-loving forces with the Syrian people who are the symbol of steadfastness and resistance against the evil forces.
He concluded by saying that his visit aims at conveying the true image of what is going on in Syria to the countries of the European Union.
Archbishop Chrysostomos II and the accompanying delegation also met Chairman of the Federation of the Syrian Chambers of Commerce Ghassan al-Qalla’a and members of the Board of Directors of Damascus Chamber of Commerce, and discussed ways of re-strengthening and promoting the economic and trade relations between them and working to reconsider the European economic sanctions imposed on Syria.
Al-Qallaa stressed the depth of the historical, commercial, economic and tourism relations linking Syria and Cyprus, noting that Cyprus was during a certain period, an important place for the offices of Syrian trade with the world.
He underlined that the delegation’s visit is a letter addressed to the European countries to reconsider their relations with Syria.
For his part, the Archbishop of Cyprus said that visiting the Chamber of Commerce aims at exchanging views with the officials in it on improving the bilateral relations between the two countries and between Syria and the European Union, since Cyprus is an EU member state.
The Archbishop said he would work during his meetings with the European ambassadors accredited to Cyprus or through the Foreign Affairs Ministry to ease the sanctions and injustice imposed on Syria.
In turn, members of Board of Directors of Damascus Chamber of Commerce stressed that the ongoing war against Syria targeted Syrians as a whole, calling upon the Archbishop to work to lift the sanctions imposed on the Syrian people as they are one of the main reasons for migration of the Syrians to Europe, and to facilitate obtaining visas to Cyprus.
They hoped this visit would pave the way to further strengthen relations between Syria and Cyprus and return the commercial and economic relations between the two countries.
In the same context, Minister of Education Hazwan al-Waz discussed with Archbishop Chrysostomos II and the accompanying delegation establishing a Syrian school that teaches the Syrian curriculum in Cyprus.
Minister al-Waz stressed Syria’s keenness about the future of every Syrian child inside or outside Syria, particularly in Cyprus after the growing number of Syrians there due to the crisis, stressing the importance of providing the necessary support for establishing the aforementioned school that will enhance the unique friendship between the two countries in various fields, particularly educational and cultural fields.
The Minister pointed out to the importance of the visit paid by the Archbishop of Cyprus to Syria since it sends a message to the whole world that Syria was and will remain a land of religions and civilizations and a source of national unity among its people.
In turn Archbishop Chrysostomos II pointed out to the friendly relations between Cyprus and Syria, affirming his country’s support to Syria and its people until security and stability are restored to it, expressing Cyprus’s keenness to establishing the Syrian school in Cyprus.
Ghossoun / Hazem Sabbagh