HAVANA - Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mikdad on Friday underlined Syria's commitment to the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), particularly defending sovereignty among countries, territorial integrity, non-intervention in the countries' internal affairs and encouraging peaceful solution to any dispute.
"NAM has offered its unlimited support to the Palestinian people's struggle against the Israeli occupation and to Syria in its legitimate right to restore the occupied Syria Golan as well as it condemned the Israeli unfair practices of annexing new lands," Mikdad said in a speech at the Ministerial Conference of the Coordination Bureau of NAM.
He condemned the Israeli latest aggression on Gaza Strip and the heinous crimes perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against the defenseless Palestinians.
Deputy Foreign Minister said "President Bashar al-Assad stressed in his speech at the Arab Summit of Doha Syria's satisfaction that the majority of world countries had known the real directives of the New Israeli anti-peace government... it was a clear message that peace for the Israelis is a mere speech and tactical option aiming at covering Israel's remote purposes based on usurping rights and lands."
Mikdad called on the Palestinians to unify their ranks in the face of the Israeli enemy, saying "this division in the Palestinian stances is directly affecting the Palestinian issue."
He called on NAM countries to support efforts exerted to achieve the Palestinian national unity, back any Palestinian reconciliation government and work with other countries to recognize this national government.
Deputy Foreign Minister condemned the Israeli occupation forces' violations of the basic rights of the Syrian Arab citizens in the occupied Golan, saying "Israel has lately increased its confiscation of the lands, sabotaging plants, uprooting tress, detaining Golan citizens in the Israeli prisons and preventing the Syrian citizens of Golan from visiting their motherland Syria."
On economy, Mikdad called for realizing an economic integration among NAM counties, saying "we, as part of the global economic system, will be affected by repercussions of the global finical crisis... so economic integration among our countries, in the framework of south-south cooperation, could ease loses and provide protection in light of any regional or international crisis.
Deputy Foreign Minister expressed Syria's support to African nations in the face of globalization, poverty, racism and apartheid, saying "Syria calls on the international community to meet its commitments in tackling the basic needs for Africa.
Later, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad reviewed with Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Pak Ui Chun bilateral relations between Syria and the DPRK and the latest developments in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula.
That came during a meeting on the sidelines of the Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Coordination Bureau. Mikdad also met with State Minister in Nicaragua Paul Aukic and exchanged views on the issues on the agenda of the ministerial meeting and the coordination between the two friendly countries Syria and Nicaragua.
Earlier, Dr. Mikdad presided over the morning session of the Ministerial Conference of NAM Coordination Bureau.
By Mazen Eyon and Ghossoun
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2009
