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Syrian President receives Sheikh Abdullah in Damascus

Syrian President receives Sheikh Abdullah in Damascus

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has received H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in the Syrian capital…reports Asian Lite News

The latest developments in the Middle East and Syria, in addition to a number of regional and international issues of common interest, featured high during the meeting, which was held in the presence of Dr. Faisal Mekdad, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Syria, Mansour Fadlallah Azzam, Minister of Presidential Affairs, Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, and Ali Mohammed bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security.

Syrian President receives Sheikh Abdullah in Damascus

The two sides also reviewed the prospects of enhancing bilateral relations between the two brotherly nations.

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah conveyed to President Bashar the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and their wishes for further stability, progress and prosperity in Syria.

The Syrian president reciprocated the greetings and underlined the strong bonds between the two fraternal nations. He also commended the objective positions adopted by the UAE.

ALSO READ: President of Cyprus received UAE Foreign Minister

For his part, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah underlined the UAE’s keenness on ensuring the security, stability and unity of Syria, and its support for all efforts made to end the Syrian crisis, consolidate stability in the country and meet the aspirations of the Syrian people for development, progress and prosperity.

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Jordan FM met UN discuss to resolve the crisis in Syria

Jordan FM met UN discuss to resolve the crisis in Syria

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen and discussed efforts to achieve a political solution to the ongoing crisis in the conflict-hit nation…reports Asian Lite News

During the meeting here on Sunday, Safadi emphasised the importance of systematic and effective action towards a political solution to the crisis, Xinhua news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry statement as saying.

The Minister said Jordan will continue its efforts, in cooperation with the UN, as well as regional and international partners, to preserve Syria’s unity and cohesion, restore its security and stability, defeat terrorism, and create conducive conditions for the voluntary return of refugees.

Jordan FM met UN discuss to resolve the crisis in Syria

The Jordanian official warned against the declining support for refugees and refugee-host countries, stressing that offering decent life for refugees is a shared responsibility for the international communities.

Pedersen lauded Jordan’s humanitarian role in receiving Syrian refugees, expressing appreciation for Jordan’s unceasing cooperation with the UN to resolve the crisis.

Also on Sunday, Safadi met Norway’s Special Envoy for Iraq and Syria Hilde Haraldstad and discussed the latest developments in efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis and improve the situation in Iraq.

Safadi drew attention to the necessity of the international community’s support for Iraqi government efforts to meet Iraqi people’s aspirations and achieve security and stability in the country.

ALSO READ: Iran calls for ending Syria sanctions, Yemen siege

The meetings came at a time the Syrian people are suffering greatly from the tough economic situation with skyrocketing prices of all goods amid the lack and scarcity of some basic materials.

According to the World Bank, the Syrian economy has shrunk by more than 60 per cent since 2010, and the Syrian pound has also majorly devaluated.

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Arab News Syria World

Drone attack targets US base in Syria

Drone attack targets US base in Syria

A drone attack targeted a US base in the al-Tanf area in Syria..reports Asian Lite News

Multiple explosions rocked the US base late Wednesday night as a result of the attack, Xinhua news agency quoted SANA as sayonh without giving any other details.

Drone attack targets US base in Syria

Meanwhile, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the explosions, saying it was not yet clear whether the attack was carried out by pro-Iran militia or not.

It’s worth noting that Israel has carried out its recent attacks from over the al-Tanf area, targeting positions of pro-Iran fighters.

ALSO READ: The latest round of Syrian constitutional talks held at Geneva

In 2016, the US established the base in al-Tanf, located in a triangle of border regions between Syria, Iraq and Jordan.

The Syrian government has repeated calls for the US to withdraw from Syria, deeming its presence “illegal”.

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The latest round of Syrian constitutional talks held at Geneva

The latest round of Syrian constitutional talks held at Geneva

The latest round of Syrian constitutional talks, participated by members of the Syrian Constitutional Committee’s Small Body, will kick off in Geneva on Monday…reports Asian Lite News

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen told a press conference here Sunday that the parties have agreed to prepare and start drafting for constitutional reform, and “the new thing this week is that we will actually be starting a drafting process for constitutional reform in Syria.”

The UN envoy said that on Sunday morning, he had met with the Co-Chair nominated by the Syrian government and the Co-Chair nominated by the opposition, Xinhua news agency reported.

The latest round of Syrian constitutional talks held at Geneva

GEIR O. PEDERSEN, UN SPECIAL ENVOY, SYRIA: “For the first time, the two Co-Chairs, the one nominated by the government and the other nominated by the opposition, were sitting down together with me for a substantial and frank discussion on how we are to proceed with the constitutional reform and indeed in detail how we are planning for the week ahead of us.”

The UN envoy told reporters that the humanitarian and economic situation in Syria is extremely difficult, noting there are more than 13 million Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance.

ALSO READ: Will Moscow Format upstage Doha talks to resolve Af crisis?

The Syrian Constitutional Committee — which comprises representatives of the Syrian government, the opposition, and civil society — was officially launched in Geneva on October 30, 2019 to draft a new constitution for the war-torn country.

The Committee’s Small Body, including 45 delegates and 15 each from the three groups, has met in Geneva for five times, without making any major progress.

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Syrian President welcomes back his exiled uncle

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s uncle Rifaat al-Assad has returned to the country after 37 years in exile…reports Asian Lite News

The President has allowed the return of his uncle, who left Syria in 1984 after mounting a failed coup against his brother Hafez al-Assad who ruled Syria from 1971 to 2000, Xinhua news agency quoted the al-Watan newspaper report as saying late Friday.

Syrian President

Saying Rifaat arrived in Syria on Thursday and would serve no political or social position, the al-Watan report said that the his return came against the backdrop of a verdict by a French court that sentenced him to four years in prison for financial crimes.

ALSO READ: Iran FM visits Syria to discuss bilateral ties

Rifaat’s assets, worth $106 million, and his assets in Spain valued at about $804 have all been confiscated over the past few years.

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Iran FM visits Syria to discuss bilateral ties

Iran FM visits Syria to discuss bilateral ties

Both sides are putting forward “intensive programs” to implement cooperation in the economic, trade, and tourism fields…reports Asian Lite News

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian is on a visit to Syria to discuss about the “comprehensive developments” in the bilateral relations between Tehran and Damascus, according to the state news agency SANA.

Addressing the media jointly with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad here upon his arrival on Saturday, Abdullahian said that over the past few weeks, Syria and Iran have reached “important agreements” for achieving comprehensive development in the relations in all fields, reports Xinhua news agency.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian

He said both sides are putting forward “intensive programs” to implement cooperation in the economic, trade, and tourism fields.

“Syria is on the path of progress and prosperity,” he said, stressing his country’s ongoing support to Damascus.

On his part, Mekdad described the visit of the Iranian official as “important”, noting that there are “important developments” that will be discussed between both sides for the interests of both peoples.

ALSO READ: India, Denmark Ink Green Pacts

Before Damascus, Abdullahian visited Russia and Lebanon and held talks with Russian and Lebanese officials on various international and bilateral issues.

Mekdad noted that he and Abdullahian will discuss the outcome of the latter’s visits to Russia and Lebanon.

The visit of the Iranian official comes after Mekdad pointed out recently that there is a change in the international political atmosphere towards the Syrian issue, noting that during the recent UN General Assembly meetings, several countries wanted to meet with the Syrian government delegation.

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Iran promises to support Syria

Iran will keep supporting the Syrian government in fighting against terrorism, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a telephonic conversation with the Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad.

Zarif reaffirmed that the Islamic Republic will continue its support for Syria in various fields and in its efforts to ensure security and stability across Syria, according to Tasnim news agency.

The Iranian Foreign Minister also stressed the need for a solution that preserves the interests, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Arab country, Xinhua reported.

For his part, Mekdad thanked Iran for supporting the Syrian people in the economic arena with the purpose of mitigating the effects of unilateral economic sanctions.

The two sides also urged the western states to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions on Syria, said the report.

The conversation between the two senior officials of the regional allies followed US air strikes that killed at least 22 pro-Iran fighters in eastern Syria on Friday morning.

Also Read-UN calls for full access to Syria’s al-Hol camp

Read More-Iran, Syria call for rapid establishment of joint bank

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US sanctions Syrian entities,officials

The Treasury Department added seven individuals, nine business entities, and the Central Bank of Syria to its blacklist…reports Asian Lite News

The US on Tuesday announced more than a dozen of sanctions against Syrian individuals and entities to further pressure the Syrian government.

The Treasury Department added seven individuals, nine business entities, and the Central Bank of Syria to its blacklist. Among them, four are immediate family members of Asma al-Assad, the wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who had been designated earlier this year. The commander of Syria’s Military Intelligence and a senior official of the Syrian Presidency were also targeted, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The Treasury said that all property and interests of the property of the designated entities and the individuals in the US have been blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them.

In addition, non-US persons that engage in certain transactions with them may be exposed to sanctions.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has said that the US is practicing “economic terrorism” against Syria. President Assad said last month that the sanctions of the US and its allies on Syria are hindering the Syrian government’s efforts to rehabilitate the infrastructure in areas destroyed by the more than nine-year-long war.

Also read:Russia Bans More EU Officials To Retaliate Sanctions

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UN urges ‘key players’ to cooperate for Syrian peace

“Much more can be done to safeguard international peace and security while also looking at practical and concrete ways to safeguard and restore Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.” said UN envoy…reports Asian Lite News

UN special envoy for Damascus Geir Pedersen has warned that with five foreign armies operating in Syria, the war-torn country remains a tinderbox for a major international incident, with potential implications across the region.

“Much more can be done to safeguard international peace and security while also looking at practical and concrete ways to safeguard and restore Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity in the context of the (Resolution) 2254 process,” the special envoy said on Wednesday while addressing the Security Council video conference on Syria.

“To achieve this, key players would need to be ready to come to the table together,” he said.

Pedersen mainly briefed the Council on the work of the constitutional committee and other recent developments, Xinhua news agency reported.

The envoy underscored that “a credible constitutional process is important”, noting that there are a range of issues beyond the constitution, of urgent concern to ordinary Syrians and identified in Resolution 2254, that need to be addressed.

“Violent conflict and terrorism are still very much a reality for Syrians. Thanks to existing arrangements, including those involving Russia, Turkey and the US, a fragile calm continues, and there are ongoing efforts to address listed terrorist groups, including IS (Islamic State) and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham,” according to the envoy.

“But this still falls well short of the nationwide ceasefire envisioned in Resolution 2254,” he added.

Turning to the humanitarian situation, the envoy said millions of Syrians remains precarious and it has even been catastrophic for some.

“Indeed, Syrian civilians continue to suffer profound economic hardship, particularly with fresh currency depreciation, and shortages of bread, fuel and medicine in the middle of what is set to be a hard winter, with the Covid-19 pandemic continuing to spread,” Pedersen said.

“I believe that more can and should be done to address these conditions, including through ensuring that any sanctions avoid aggravating the plight of Syrian civilians,” the envoy added.

Also read:Iran, Syria to boost ‘strategic ties’

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Russia resumes trade mission in Syria

Moscow, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin (Sputnik via Xinhua/IANS)

Russia closed its previous trade mission in Syria on January 1, 2006…reports Asian Lite News

Russia will reopen its trade mission in the Syrian capital of Damascus by the end of this year, according to a decree by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin published Wednesday.

In the decree, Mishustin instructed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to approve the organizational structure and recruit staff of the trade office, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Russia closed its previous trade mission in Syria on January 1, 2006.

In another decree, Mishustin ordered the closure of Russian trade missions in Ukraine and Lithuania, without giving a reason.

Also read:4 US soldiers killed in Syria