President Assad: Iran’s backing helped Syria withstand conflict

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has praised friendly countries, particularly Iran, over their unwavering support for the Syrian nation and government in the face of militancy in the country.

During a meeting with visiting Iranian Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Ali Tayyeb-Nia in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Monday, Assad said Iran’s support has had an impressive effect on boosting Syrians’ steadfastness to resist the conflict, which has entered its fifth year.

The Syrian leader also underscored the strategic importance of relations between Damascus and Tehran, adding that such ties serve the interests of both nations.

Assad also emphasized the need for the formulation of a transparent structure in order to further upgrade the level of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Tayyeb-Nia, for his part, said Tehran considers support for Damascus a duty, as Syria plays a major role in confronting Israeli-engineered plots in the Middle East, and its victory in the fight against terrorism will help restore stability and security across the region.

He added that the multifaceted Iran-Syria relations are broad, deeply-rooted and unswerving, expressing Iran’s full preparedness to transfer its expertise in the fields of development projects and engineering to Syria.

Later in the day, Tayyeb-Nia held a separate meeting with Syrian Finance Minister Ismail Ismail, during which the two sides inked a memorandum of understanding.

Under the agreement, Iran’s private sector will be able to actively participate in the reconstruction of Syria. It also facilitates further expansion of trade and economic ties between Tehran and Damascus and paves the way for Iranian goods to be exported to Syria.

On December 9, 2014, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said he is assured that the Syrian nation will emerge winner from the ongoing battle against Takfiri terrorists.

“We are certain that the Syrian nation will be the ultimate winner of this battle,” President Rouhani said in a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem in Tehran.

“Today, it has become clear for the [Middle East] region and the world that the Syrian government and army are capable of countering terrorists and safeguarding the country,” Rouhani added.

Muallem, for his part, expressed gratitude to the Islamic Republic for its support of Syria, criticizing the United States and its allies for supporting the terrorists fighting the Syrian government.

New figures show that 66,000 civilians, including more than 10,800 children and nearly 7,000 women, have lost their lives in Syria over the past four years of turmoil.

Some 3.33 million Syrians have left their country since the beginning of the crisis in March 2011. A total of 6.8 million people have also become internally displaced, according to a recent UN-ordered report entitled “Syria: Alienation and Violence, Impact of the Syria Crisis.”

MP/HSN/SS

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