Saudi Arabia: Iran Still Major Threat to Syria’s Future, Identity

Arab World

June 30th, 5:29pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia stressed on Tuesday that its position on the Syrian crisis is clear in that the political solution is the only way to resolve conflict. Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah underlined the need to implement United Nations Security Council resolution 2254 and the Geneva 1 conference. Speaking at the Brussels-hosted virtual donor conference on Syria, he warned that Iran was still a major threat to the future of Syria and its identity. He noted that the donor meeting was the fourth to address Syria’s future, ten years after the eruption of its crisis. A solution has yet to be reached to the conflict, which has had repercussions on the security and stability of the region and world. Prince Faisal stressed Saudi Arabia’s complete support for the efforts of the UN and its envoy, Geir Pedersen, in reaching a solution to the conflict and resuming the work of the constitutional committee. He cited the Kingdom’s support to Syria, highlighting its hosting of the Riyadh 1 and 2 conferences that led to the formation of the Syrian High Negotiations Committee. He added that Saudi Arabia has exerted and was still exerting all possible efforts to unite the Syrian opposition. On the Iranian threat, the minister said: “Some international parties have interests in Syria, but Iran has a dangerous regional expansionist project that it is pursuing through sectarian militias and the stoking of destructive civil wars.” “Sectarian militias and terrorist groups are two sides of the same coin. They both bring about destruction and ruin and prolong crises. Saudi Arabia stresses the need to combat all forms of terrorist organizations,” declared Prince Faisal. The process to reconstruct Syria hinges on the launch of a real UN-sponsored political settlement, he added.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2363361/saudi-arabia-iran-still-major-threat-syria%E2%80%99s-future-identity