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Intra-Syrian Dialogue Key to Conflict Resolution

Intra-Syrian Dialogue Key to Conflict Resolution
Intra-Syrian Dialogue Key to Conflict Resolution

A senior official said Tehran, Moscow and Damascus intend to increase their efforts to find a political way out of the five-year crisis in Syria.

Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani made the remark in a Friday meeting with Syrian Defense Minister Fahd Jassim al-Freij, who was in Tehran to attend a trilateral meeting of the defense chiefs of Iran, Russia and the war-torn Arab country.  

“Concurrent with improving military coordination against takfiri terrorists, the three countries will seek to reactivate their political capacities for reaching a comprehensive solution to stop the bloodshed in Syria,” IRNA quoted him as saying.

A takfiri is a Muslim who accuses followers of some Islamic sects of apostasy and believes they should be killed.

“The only path to the end of the crisis in Syria is intra-Syrian dialogue, whose participants should continue to find a path on which all political parties in the country have consensus,” he said.

   A Clear Paradox

Shamkhani criticized the US and its western and regional allies for their “unconstructive approach” to the problem that has escalated tensions in the key Middle East country.

“Supporting terrorist groups and simultaneously proposing political solutions to the crisis is an apparent paradox which calls their honesty into question.”

The SNSC secretary stressed Iran’s continued support for Damascus “until the full elimination of all terrorist groups”.

“Today, Syria is the frontline of fighting a very dangerous intrigue, which if not eradicated will spread its roots around the world,” he said.

Freij thanked Iran for providing Syria with strong support against terrorism, saying, “The Syrian government and nation, with full determination, will continue their great battle to wipe out the ruthless terrorists.”

The Syrian minister described the trilateral meeting as “very successful and effective” and said the three countries will continue consultations on effective ways to fight terror.

The meeting was held in Tehran on Thursday among Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan and his Russian and Syrian counterparts, Sergei Shoigu and Freij.

After the meeting it was announced that the three countries have agreed to boost cooperation in their campaign against terrorist groups which have wreaked havoc in Syria and the strategic West Asia region.

Syria has been the scene of a foreign-backed insurgency since March 2011, which according to a February report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people.

Iran and Russia are Syria’s main allies against various militant groups fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad, including the so-called Islamic State and the al Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Shamkhani also met Shoigu to discuss ways to help restore peace and stability to the region.

Financialtribune.com