Syrian-Iraqi-Iranian meeting calls on international community to take comprehensive stance against terrorism

A Syrian-Iraqi-Iranian meeting among Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad, Iraqi Assistant Foreign Minister Nizar al-Kherallah and Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian focused on exchanging viewpoints on the latest developments in the region, crimes of Takfiri terrorists and the Yemeni crisis.

In a statement following the meeting, the three top officials affirmed that the inter-Syrian dialogue and national reconciliations are the way to reach a national solution to solve the crisis in Syria, affirming their support to Iraq against terrorism.

They called on the international community to take a comprehensive, effective stance to face the Takfiri terrorism in light of a true acknowledgment about the situation in the region, expressing concern over distorting image of Islam by terrorist organizations.

The statement stressed that crimes of the Islamic state in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist organizations against the Syrian and Iraqi peoples are an example of the crimes against humanity, calling for punishing the perpetrators of such crimes.

The three countries pointed out to the vast sabotage of the historic and culture ruins in Syria and Iraq by terrorist organizations.

Earlier, the meeting was held in the Iranian capital Tehran to discuss means of finding political solutions for crises, cooperating in combating terrorism, and re-establishing peace and stability in the region.

The three countries’ representatives said this meeting will be the first of a series of similar meetings to boost cooperation and coordination in order to tackle threats to the region, particularly terrorism.

Syria’s representative, Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad, said during the meeting that the goal of this meeting is to work towards establishing security and stability in the three participating countries, the region, and the world.

Mikdad said that when Syrians, Iraqis, and Iranians combine their efforts, particularly in combating terrorism and Takfiri movements like ISIS and al-Nusra, then this will have a positive effect on their countries and the whole world, underlining the strong fraternal and historical relations between the three countries.

He stressed that the cooperation between the three countries is based on preserving sovereignty and independence, asserting that Iran’s support for Syria and Iraq is based on mutual respect and confronting terrorism, and that Iran’s call for cooperation is open to all those who want to fight terrorism, noting that at the same time, some countries claim to be fighting terrorism while they actually arm, train, and fund terrorists and send them to Syria and Iraq to shed innocent blood.

The Deputy Minister addressed all the world’s countries and affirmed support for any genuine international counterterrorism effort and for implementing relevant Security Council resolutions, calling on the UN to work towards implementing these decisions rather than ignore them in difference to certain states and leaders who support terrorism instead of fighting it.

He also lauded Iran’s recent efforts to end the ordeal in Yemen.
For his part, Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that this meeting is vital for taking steps to combat terrorism as well as exchanging viewpoints regarding recent developments in the region and the world.

In turn, Iraqi Assistant Foreign Minister Nizar al-Kherallah said that Syrian-Iraqi-Iranian coordination is essential in light of the massive challenges facing the region, particularly the threat of terrorism, asserting Iraq’s support for Syria’s unity and sovereignty and for any political solution to resolve the crisis in it.

Today’s meeting follows a Syrian-Iranian-Swiss meeting held on Tuesday in Tehran to coordinate humanitarian aid for the Syrian people, where Mikdad represented the Syrian side.

The three countries’ representatives discussed a variety of issues and the practical steps that should be taken to provide the necessary humanitarian aid for the Syrian who are facing difficult conditions due to terrorism.