Damascus, June 9 (SANA) Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said on Monday that Syria views Africa as “a key partner in building a more balanced and just world” based on respect for sovereignty and non-interference, while stressing the need for stronger cooperation to address shared economic, humanitarian and development challenges.
Speaking at an Africa Day reception in Damascus, al-Shaibani said escalating military tensions in the region were affecting stability in Syria, threatening the safety of its airspace and hindering reconstruction efforts.
He said Israel continues to occupy Syrian territory in the Golan and that its actions constitute “a flagrant breach of international law and a constant source of tension and instability” that threaten regional peace and security.
Al-Shaibani also said Syria rejects attempts by groups and militias operating outside state authority, particularly in Sweida province, to exploit the country’s past circumstances to engage in illicit activities, including drug and arms trafficking.
“The extension of the authority of the state and its legitimate institutions is the fundamental guarantee for protecting citizens and consolidating stability and the rule of law,” he said.
The foreign minister added that extending state authority across all Syrian territory is key to security and development and an essential condition for stability in Syria and the region.
“There can be no security or development amid the spread of uncontrolled weapons or the existence of centers of power outside the framework of the state,” he said.
Minister al-Shaibani stressed that Syria remains committed to strengthening civil peace, preserving national unity, and safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Al-Shaibani said Syria highly values Africa’s growing role in promoting peace, security and justice and its support for the principles of mutual respect among states.
“Over many decades, Syria and African countries have been united by strong relations based on mutual respect and solidarity in confronting colonialism, occupation and external domination, and by a shared belief in the right of peoples to self-determination and to defend their sovereignty and independence,” he said.
He added that challenges facing African and Arab countries underscore the need for greater cooperation in combating terrorism, organized crime and the illicit trafficking of people, drugs and weapons, while promoting sustainable development and economic prosperity.
M.F / ABD
