Riyadh, Feb.9 (SANA) Saudi Arabia’s deputy foreign minister said Monday the Kingdom supports Syria’s efforts to restore stability and unity, welcoming Damascus’ participation in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.
Speaking at a meeting of political directors from the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Riyadh, Waleed Bin Abdulkarim al-Khereiji stated that Syria’s steps toward national reconciliation and security serve the interests of the Syrian people and regional stability.
Al-Khereiji said the continued presence of ISIS’s militants in Syria and Iraq has complicated security, humanitarian and political challenges, adding that closer coordination among coalition members is needed to protect civilians and prevent the resurgence of the extremist group.
He praised Iraq’s cooperation with the coalition and welcomed Syria’s move to take responsibility for detention centers and displacement camps housing ISIS fighters and their families, describing it as a step toward long-term stability.
The Saudi official also welcomed a ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, which includes integrating local administrative institutions into the Syrian state framework.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and intelligence chief Hussein al-Salama attended the meeting, where al-Shaibani also met with U.S. special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan.
Al-Khereiji made the remarks on Monday during the meeting of political directors of the International Coalition to Defeat ISIS, held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, with Syria participating for the first time since the coalition’s establishment in 2014.
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