Syria FM warns against West attempts to impose will on nations, urges joint Arab action

The Syrian Foreign Minister has warned that the West seeks to impose its will on other nations, urging Arab countries to take their joint action to put an end to challenges facing the Arab world.

Speaking before the 160th session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level in Egypt’s capital of Cairo on Wednesday, Faisal Mekdad warned that the challenges facing many Arab countries pose a threat to Arab security as a whole, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

He added that Arab countries are facing many common challenges, including interference in their domestic affairs, military attacks, foreign occupation of parts of their lands, the spread of terrorism and poverty as well as a decline in development indicators.

The top Syrian diplomat said Arab countries have always been vulnerable to the repercussions resulting from such challenges.

He also warned that the West seeks to impose its own concept of a world order on other nations although it is “aware that such rules contradict our morals and values.”

“This prompts us to reaffirm the need to strengthen joint Arab action in addressing the main issues that concern us and to agree to reform the Arab League and develop the work of its mechanisms through dialogue, transparency, mutual respect, and common interests,” Mekdad added.

He noted that the participants at the Arab League summit in the Saudi city of Jeddah had made important decisions during their 32nd regular session in May, adding that the Arab-Arab and Arab-regional detente preceded it, apparently pointing to Syria’s return to the Arab League and the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

He pledged that Damascus would continue to exercise its natural key role in its Arab surroundings which “constituted an important turning point and the beginning of a new phase of joint Arab action and regional rapprochement for solidarity to serve the countries and peoples of the region.”

The minister stressed the importance of adherence to the Jeddah Summit achievements and boost sincere cooperation among Arab countries to preserve Arab countries’ security.

It is necessary to settle the Arab countries’ crises without foreign interference and confront Turkey’s military interventions in Syria, he said.

In his remarks, Mekdad called for mobilizing international support and pressure on Israel to end its repeated attacks which he said also endanger international peace and security.