Damascus, Feb.26 (SANA) Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, received Thursday a diplomatic delegation from the European Union, headed by Rosa Maria Gheli, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the European External Action Service.
Talks during the meeting dealt with aspects of developing relations between the two sides, with the delegation affirming European Union’s continued support for the Syrian government’s efforts, expecting to raise the level of the diplomatic representation of the EU mission in Damascus as soon as possible.
Discussions focused on means of reactivating previous agreements, including the possibility of lifting the freeze on some of their provisions in the framework of the gradual openness and Syria’s return to the international community.
The two sides also tackled the file of refugee return, with emphasis on the need for a safe, orderly and sustainable return, and a proposal to form a joint committee to follow up on this issue and ensure a dignified return for the displaced.
For his part, Minister Al-Shaibani briefed the visiting delegation on the government’s achievements during the past year, despite the challenges and legacy of the previous era, including progress in unifying Syrian territory and integration processes, activating transitional justice mechanisms and asset recovery, as well as exploring ways to support reconstruction and open the door for European institutions and banks to contribute to these efforts.
