Quito, October 11, 2011

ALBA EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH SYRIA

A high delegation of ALBA met, exceptionally, in Damascus, Syria, September 8 and 9, in order to observe the difficult international crises that the Arab country is facing with the United States and Western European countries and to discuss with government authorities.

The visit was a compliance with a resolution agreed by the Sixth Political Council of ALBA and included several meetings with government officials in Syria. The first of these, was with the Vice Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, who appreciated the gesture of friendship and solidarity of the delegation comprised by Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez, Minister of Communication of Bolivia, Ivan Canelas, the Ambassador of Nicaragua to the United Nations, Maria Rubiales de Chamorro, and the Undersecretary for Europe and North America from Ecuador, Pablo Villagomez.

The delegation met with President Bashar al Assad. Direct and clear dialogue focused on the international political predicament that the Arab country is facing. President Assad said that new laws have been issued for elections, of party system, for combating corruption, among others. He reported that elections will be held in February 2012, and a popular referendum to approve the new Constitution of Syria is being developed by an ad hoc committee.

The President explained that his government is victim of an irresponsible and biased media management lying openly about what happens in the country, he said that armed groups operating in certain border areas of Syria want to destabilize the country and create conditions favorable to bring down his government.

The President referred to the Transitional Council that would be constituted in Turkey and called not to admit it. He hoped countries like Brazil, India and South Africa to have a strong position in defense of Syria. The President did not hide his concern over these eventsand therefore he welcomed the presence of the delegation as a symbol of the struggle of peoples against imperialism and for national sovereignty.

Undersecretary Paul Villagomez, said Ecuador's position on the crisis in Syria, in essence, is based on respect for international law and legality, which must be framed on the behavior of states, avoiding any use of force that would undermine the sovereignty and independence of Syria and that ignores the right of self-determination of the Syrian people.

The delegation also met with Foreign Minister of Syria Walid al-Moualem, who said that the Syrian Government runs the country; all kinds of activities are developing normally. The Minister also denied the news of the Western press to the effect that in Syria there are many sectors of the opposition who are being brutally repressed by the regime. The Minister explained that one of the most pernicious aspects affecting Syria is the economic embargo against his country by Western powers, and referred to the need of taking measures to mitigate its effects.

PRESS RELEASE No. 1004