Alwaght- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad affirmed that Syria is focused on pushing ahead with counter-terrorism aided by friendly countries, namely Iran and Russia that sets the stage for a peaceful solution.
The President’s remarks came as he received on Saturday Iran’s Foreign Minister’s Special Assistant in Political Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari.
Strategic Syrian-Iranian ties and the mutual desire to boost them were high on the agenda, as well as the common counter-terrorism efforts and endeavors for the forthcoming Syrian national dialogue congress in Sochi to work out.
President al-Assad and Ansari also discussed the Turkish incessant aggression against Syrian territories and crimes against Syrian citizens.
The two sides agreed that the aggression is aimed at grabbing Syrian territories, backing terrorist organizations, and torpedoing peace efforts in Syria.
Ansari, for his part, reiterated Iran’s steady support for Syria in the fight against terrorism and in the reconstruction process.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem met with Ansari, with the two sides discussing latest developments in Syria and the region.
Al-Moallem and Ansari emphasized the importance of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress slated to be held in Sochi, hoping it will push for a settlement to the crisis through an intra-Syrian dialogue without foreign interference or pressure.
Meanwhile, the UN’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced on Saturday that the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will send his Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura to participate in the Syrian National Dialogue Congress due to be held on January 29-30 in the Russian city of Sochi.
Syrian forces are engaged in intensive operations to wipe out remnants of terrorists in many parts of the country after a successful offensive to retake all territories previously occupied by ISIS terrorist group in the country. Syria has been gripped by a foreign-backed insurgency since 2011 which has led to the killing of hundreds of thousands of civilians and displacing of millions.
