A multitude of distinguished Heads of Parliament and delegations have descended upon Damascus International Airport on Sunday to declare their unwavering support to Syria and to demonstrate solidarity with its people amidst their arduous trials.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad welcomed the delegation from the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, highlighting the significance of their visit to Syria amid difficult circumstances. “The delegation’s visit serves as a symbol of support for the Syrian people, who have been facing the impact of a terrorist war and the aftermath of an earthquake,” Assad stressed.
The US invested billions in weapons, training & facilitating the movement of extremists and economic warfare to isolate Syria from the rest of the region. So this news must be hard to swallow for those still obsessed with regime change: https://t.co/roI2XBuzPu
— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) February 26, 2023
During the visit, the Emirati delegation, including its leader, expressed their support for the Syrian people who have endured the consequences of the destructive earthquake, warfare, and blockade. They conveyed the Emirati people’s affection for Syria and their solidarity with its citizens.
President al-Assad acknowledged the United Arab Emirates’ stance and its valuable support for the Syrian people during this challenging period. He specifically mentioned their aid in the form of rescue teams and essential equipment, which have been instrumental in the rescue and relief efforts.
At the recently held 34th Conference of Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Baghdad, a decision was made to dispatch a high-level delegation of parliamentary heads to visit Syria and reaffirm their solidarity with it.
The Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Hammouda Sabbagh, expounded on the favorable atmosphere of the Arab Parliamentary Union conference in Baghdad, where the collective stance of all Arab countries towards the vital necessity for Syria’s return to its Arab surroundings was prominently featured.
Sabbagh conveyed Syria’s profound gratitude to all the delegations that have arrived in Damascus to demonstrate their steadfast support.
Syrian Parliament Gathers Arabs
Sabbagh extended a warm welcome to the Speakers of parliaments and heads of parliamentary delegations.
During a session of the People’s Assembly, the President of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union and Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Muhammad al-Halbousi, emphasized their visit to Damascus as a symbol of support for Syria in overcoming its challenges. He added that Syria is an integral part of the Arab environment and expressed his hope that it would soon return to its rightful place among its fellow Arab nations.
Similarly, the President of the Palestinian National Council, Rawhi Fattouh, stated that the visit signifies the return of the Arab nation to Syria, which he described as the “beating heart of Arabism.”
Other speakers, including Ahmad Safadi, the Speaker of the Jordanian Parliament, and Dr. Hanafy Ali Gebaly, the Speaker of Egypt’s Parliament, expressed their support for the Syrian people and affirmed their deep-rooted ties with Syria.
Representatives from Oman and Lebanon also conveyed their solidarity with Syria and emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between their respective countries and Syria.
Member of the Lebanese Parliament, Ayoub Hamid, emphasized the significance of this visit in demonstrating the solidarity of the Arab world with Syria, while also underscoring the longstanding and deeply-rooted relations between Lebanon and Syria.
Upon arrival, the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament and Head of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union conveyed a statement to journalists at the airport, emphasizing that the delegation represents the Inter-Parliamentary Union which convened in Baghdad to solidify their endorsement of Syria and to stand in firm unity with its populace who have been beleaguered by the aftermath of the earthquake.
Al-Halbousi accentuated that the Arab nations’ collective standpoint underscores the imperative for Syria to reintegrate into its Arab environs and to discharge its multifaceted responsibilities on both the regional and international platforms.
Dr. Gebaly similarly expressed his sentiments in a statement at the airport, echoing the Arab Parliaments’ steadfast backing of Syria and its people. He underscored that Syria will once again reclaim its rightful place within the Arab League and that the primary objective of this visit is to validate the delegation’s endorsement of the Syrian leadership, government, and citizenry.
“We are present in Syria to extend our support and demonstrate unwavering solidarity with the Syrian people in the face of the devastating earthquake,” Dr. Gebaly proclaimed, further stating that the delegation’s presence in Syria serves as a symbol of fraternal support to the Syrian population during these challenging times. He appended that other Arab parliamentary delegations will subsequently arrive in Damascus in a timely manner.
From Egypt: Peace to Damascus
A group of Arab politicians have issued a call to end the unjust Western blockade that has been imposed on Syria. They have also declared their solidarity with Syria, recognizing the difficult humanitarian circumstances that the country has endured as a result of the recent earthquake and the ongoing terrorist war that has ravaged the nation in recent years.
This call was made during a meeting held on Saturday evening at the headquarters of the Egyptian Writers Union, which was entitled “Peace to Damascus” and was attended by representatives of the Syrian diplomatic mission to Egypt. The gathering was organized by the Dr. Gamal Shiha Foundation for Education, Culture, and Sustainable Development in cooperation with the African Foundation for Development, in order to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Syrian-Egyptian unity.
Abdel Hakim Abdel Nasser, son of the late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, offered condolences to the Syrian people for the loss of life caused by the earthquake and expressed gratitude to all those who have stood by Syria in its time of need. He emphasized the urgency of Syria’s return to its rightful place in the region and the world.
Dr. Gamal Shiha underscored the importance of preserving national memory, asserting that the future of the Arab world depends on a robust and far-reaching Arab project, given that there exist Zionist projects and forces that support them.
Dr. Alaa Abdel-Hadi, Head of the General Syndicate of the Egyptian Writers Union and Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Writers, saluted the struggle of the Syrian people to maintain the integrity of their land. She called for solidarity with Syria in light of the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the earthquake, as well as the ongoing Zionist aggression and terrorism.
Dr. Hassan Ismail Moussa, President of the Arab-European Development Group and Vice President of the General Union of Egyptians Abroad, expressed solidarity with Syria and its people in the face of this disaster.
Kamal Abu Eita, the former Egyptian Minister of Manpower, stressed the need for free people around the world to stand with Syria and called for the preparation of popular convoys from all Arab capitals to travel to Syria, including doctors, pharmacists, engineers, and workers who can help the Syrian people address the effects of the disaster.
In a recorded message, former Lebanese President Emile Lahoud praised the Syrian leadership and President Bashar al-Assad for their steadfastness in the face of domestic and foreign conspiracies, including those of the Israeli occupation. Additionally, a number of Arab figures, including Archbishop Atallah Hanna, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, expressed their solidarity with Syria and called for an end to the unjust siege that has been imposed on the country.
Unwavering Support
On Saturday, the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union made a noteworthy announcement, as it revealed the constitution of a delegation set to travel to Syria, demonstrating its unwavering support and allegiance to the Syrian people.
In its final declaration, which was released upon the conclusion of its 34th conference in Baghdad, Iraq, the Union firmly emphasized the importance of Syria’s reinstatement within its Arab surroundings and the pivotal role it must play in the Arab, regional, and international arenas.
The statement further read: “In a show of solidarity with Syria, the Union has decided to establish a delegation, representing the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, to extend its support and aid in the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake that has hit numerous Syrian cities.”
Source: Al-Manar English Website
