Category: Government

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to religious harmony and tolerance has made the country a benchmark globally, says Rabbi Moshe Levine.

Rabbi Moshe Levine, Vice President for the Conference of European Rabbis and Special Advisor for the Chief Rabbi of France, on the sidelines of the second edition of the Joint Bahrain-EU Conference on Freedom of Religion and Belief, told the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) that he came to Bahrain for the first time in 2015.

He said he attended the first and second editions of the Bahrain-EU conference and realised how important they were.

The Rabbi underlined the topics the conference focused on this year, which are cyberspace and climate change.

“The event highlights different religions and different origins. It brings a change. And in the Kingdom of Bahrain, we see these special features that we don’t get to see all over Europe,” he said.

“In Europe, we don’t see the diversity which we see in Bahrain, something very special. That’s why I like to come and share this moment with other people.”

The rabbi said that he appreciates the efforts of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in showing commitment to peace.

“It’s a long way to obtain peace and maintain it, and I know the endless efforts of the Kingdom of Bahrain and that’s why I like to be part of this event and I am very happy to be here.”

Source: Bahrain News Agency

A tourist group that includes 44 tourists from Russia, Belarus and Belgium has visited Damascus City after they had paid a visit to Homs central Province.

The tourist group toured the archeological monuments at the Umayyad Mosque and al-Azim Palace as well as a number of monasteries and churches in Damascus and in Palmyra City, in addition to Krak des Chevaliers Castle in Homs.

They documented with photos and videos what they saw on the ground to convey the true image to their country.

In a statement to SANA reporter, Eng. Abdel Basset Khattab, Head of Tourism Marketing and Information Department, Damascus Tourism Directorate, said that since the beginning of this year, Syria has witnessed good tourist arrivals from India, Iraq and Russia.

Abdel Basset added that this movement is on the rise, particularly after the recovery of the tourism sector.

He noted that the Ministry of Tourism receives tourists from all countries and provides them with all the possible facilitations, hoping that Syria will return as before to attract tourists from all over the world.

Maher al-Azaat from the Federation of Chambers of Tourism stated that the tourism sector in Syria has begun to recover, mainly after the return of security and safety thanks to the sacrifices of the Syrian Arab Army.

Al-Azaat added that more than 50,000 tourists of different nationalities have visited Syria during the last period.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Syria and Iraq signed a number of memos of understanding for cooperation in the domains of health, higher education, scientific research and organizing international exhibitions on Wednesday at the conclusion of the 11th session of the Syrian-Iraqi Joint Committee.

The two sides also signed a minute of the committee’s meetings which reflected the results of its work over a period of three days in the domains of trade, investment, insurance, customs, industry, agriculture, energy, tourism and urban development.

The available investment opportunities were also reviewed as the two sides underlined the importance of exchanging expertise in different domains, in addition to holding joint exhibitions and establishing partnerships in the industrial domain.

In statements to the media after the signing, the Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Dr. Mohammad Samer al-Khalil, said that the minutes of the committee’s meetings included a comprehensive review of the reality of cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

Minister al-Khalil noted that there was an important response from the Iraqi side in a number of measures within one approach aimed at developing the policy of trade exchange between the two countries and starting joint investment relations.

Health Minister, Dr. Hassan al-Ghobash, for his part, stated that the memo of understanding signed with the Iraqi side includes two basic items, the first is cooperation in several issues in the health field, and the second item is related to medicines, especially the registration of Syrian medicines in Iraq.

The memos and the minutes of the meetings were signed on behalf of the Iraqi side by Iraqi Minister of Trade, Atheer al-Ghurairy.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, said that the Iranian people and officials always stand by the Syrian people.

President Raisi, at the Forum of Businessmen held in Damascus, added that during the last meeting with President Bashar al-Assad, a number of decisions were taken, as 15 documents were signed between Tehran and Damascus.

President Raisi added that this visit represents a positive turning point for promoting bilateral ties, and “you will witness its impacts on economic relations between the two countries.”

His excellency said that the current volume of trade exchange between the two countries “is not acceptable from our point of view and does not rise to the excellent political relations between the two sides and we need a step forward in this field to expand relations.”

The Iranian President added that the joint meetings between Syria and Iran are useful for implementing the mutual agreements, and it is appropriate for the two countries to form a joint room among Iran, Syria and Lebanon.

On the other hand, the Iranian president stressed that the Syrian people have suffered for 12 years’ huge difficulties, troubles and big injustice, considering that the takfiris who launched attacks on the Syrian people with support of the West must be accountable in front of ethics, law and history.

“Unfortunately, there is no mechanism to prosecute oppressors and takfiri in the world although they caused heavy losses to the Syrian people, and we hope that justice will be achieved soon so that the hegemony system bears responsibility towards the Syrian people and other peoples,” the President said.

Raisi renewed Iran’s permanent support, as people, government and leadership, for the Syrian people as they have stood by them during the past years.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

In the framework of his official visit to Syria, the Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, received Prime Minister, Hussein Arnous at his residence in Damascus.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed means of boosting aspects of cooperation and the need for following up on the joint cooperation documents signed early and finding the proper executive mechanisms in the interests of the two peoples.

The talks also dealt with the needed measures that should be taken to boost indicators of trade exchange.

President Raisi affirmed the Iranian companies’ willingness to actively share in the reconstruction process in Syria.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met Senior Religious Scholars in Damascus in the presence of Minister of Religious Endowments Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed.

The Religious Scholars welcomed His Excellency and hailed the strategic ties binding Syria and Iran and their united position against the US and Israeli terrorism targeting peoples in the region.

President Raisi thanked the scholars and praised the resilience of Syrians, affirming Iran’s firm support to Syrians and the deep-rooted strategic relations between the two countries.

Raisi stressed that the method of resistance adopted by President Bashar al-Assad has given fruit and this was clear through Syria’s victory over terrorism and its supporters.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

President Bashar al-Assad and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed Wednesday a memo of understanding on long-term comprehensive strategic cooperation plan between the two countries.

The two sides also signed a number of cooperation agreements in various areas, including the agriculture, oil, transport, free zones, communications and other domians.

At a news briefing, President al-Assad said “Economic issues were at the core of our talks today. The memo of understanding signed and the numerous projects discussed will greatly advance the bilateral relations through developing mechanisms to increase trade exchange and investments between the two countries. In addition, they will mitigate the impacts of sanctions, taking advantage of changes in the global economic map and the gradual transition of balance to the East, which will liberate international economics from western hegemony.”

President al-Assad added: “Many issues were discussed today, foremost of which was the colonial powers’ attempts to undermine the stability of countries and divide them, which is an old colonial policy, but it still exists today. The most effective way to confront them is to take advantage of the current positive opportunities represented by the improvement of relations between a number of countries in our region after decades of tension, based on the axiom that the countries and peoples of the region win together or lose together.”

President al-Assad went on to say: “In that context, we welcomed the development of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it will have a great positive impact on the immunity of countries in this important part of the world. This immunity is what we need most today in the face of the abnormal Zionist entity that only survives on blood and death.

The President said: “Within the framework of the quadripartite meeting held in Moscow, we stressed the importance of this initiative, while making sure that its core and goal is the withdrawal of the occupying forces and halting support for terrorist groups as a natural way to restore normal relations between any two countries. I thanked President Raisi for the active role that Iran plays alongside Russia in making this important initiative a success.

President Raisi, for his part, said that the two sides discussed means of boosting relations in all fields and “We expressed Iran’s keenness to maintain better ties with all countries in the region.”

He also underscored that memos of understanding, especially those in the economic and trade areas, will be in the interest of expanding relations between the two countries.

The Iranian President said: “I thank the friendly country and President of the Syrian Arab Republic for this invitation, and the warm hospitality for the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We also thank the people who withstood all measures made by terrorist organizations, starting from America, Western countries, and some countries in the region that tried to divide Syria, and tried to kill and destroy, kill women and children, and more destruction and injustice that they practiced against this people.”

President Raisi said: “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always affirmed its support for resistance and steadfastness… We stand by the Syrian government and people… We stand with the Syrian people who confronted the takfiri groups… Today the Syrian people got rid of the takfiri groups.. And today we stand by the Syrian people during the stage of reconstruction, and we will stand by it, and we trust that the Syrian people and the Syrian government will continue this path. What remains is a shame for all parties that committed assassinations and carried out terrorism against the Syrian people, who feel proud after years of steadfastness.

“We are in the process of developing our relations with countries of the region, and we will seek to expand them without the presence of foreigners… The presence of foreigners does not establish security, they do not bring us security, rather they disturb the security of the region, and it is appropriate for the American forces to leave the region quickly. The way to establish security and ensure Syrian sovereignty is the withdrawal of illegal foreign forces, and restoring Syrian sovereignty over all Syrian lands is through the exit of these forces, and Syrian sovereignty must be respected over all Syrian lands.” The Iranian President said.

President Raisi concluded by saying: “I hope that all memorandums of understanding, especially in the economic and trade fields, will be in the interest of the two countries and in expanding relations between them. We extend our hands to all the countries of the region and all the neighbors. This is our priority, and we extend our hands to them. We believe that this relationship and such memorandums of understanding can cut off the hands of foreigners from our region. We renew once again our appreciation, respect and thanks to His Excellency President of the Republic Bashar Al-Assad and the Syrian people for hosting the Iranian delegation.”

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Russian President Vladimir Putin was not harmed and continues to work as usual after Kiev’s attempted drone attack against the Kremlin this night, the presidential press service said on Wednesday.

“The Russian president was not harmed as a result of the terrorist attack. His schedule has not changed and continues as usual,” TASS quoted the press service as saying.

According to the press service, this night “the Kiev regime carried out an attempt to deliver a strike by unmanned aerial vehicles on the Kremlin residence of the Russian president.” “Two unmanned aerial vehicles targeted the Kremlin,” it said.

“As a result of timely actions taken by military and special services using electronic warfare systems, the drones were disabled,” the Kremlin stated. “Their fall and the fragments scattered around on the territory of the Kremlin caused no casualties or material damage,” the press service stressed.

The Russian president on Tuesday worked in St. Petersburg, where he gave the go-ahead to resume tram traffic in Mariupol via video link, held a meeting with the government and a number of other working meetings. Putin also met in person with famous Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, who marked his 70th birthday.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that on Wednesday Putin is working in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow, where he met with Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Participants in the Syrian-Iraqi Business Forum discussed the difficulties facing economic and trade cooperation between businessmen in both countries and proposals that would facilitate the work of the private sector, encouraging investment and establishing partnerships to increase and promote the level of economic and trade relations between the two countries.

“The title of our meeting today is to strengthen the deep-rooted bonds of brotherhood connecting us, through an open dialogue to raise the economic impediments and obstacles facing us, and to consult on ways of cooperation and the solutions required to come up with recommendations that serve the common interests of both countries in an effort to increase economic cooperation and promoting the level of trade and industrial exchange on the official and private levels and in both directions”, President of the Syrian-Iraqi Business Council, Mohamed Nasser al-Sawwah said in a speech.

Al-Sawwah called upon the Iraqi side to work on establishing joint investments to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

Al-Sawwah expressed thanks and appreciation over Iraqi leadership and people for their support to Syria during the earthquake disaster

In turn, Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Dr. Muhammad Samer al-Khalil, stated that the forum is important and characterized by privacy, because it is the first time that Syrian businessmen of all sectors meet with governmental officials from the Iraqi side, with the aim of removing obstacles facing the development of the volume of trade exchange.

Iraqi Trade Minister Atheer al-Ghurairy, considered that the Forum and the meetings of the 11th session of the joint Syrian-Iraqi committee constitute an opportunity to launch a new phase of joint relations between both countries that will reflects on trade and economic exchange and all other sectors.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday received Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi who arrived in Syria today , heading a large ministerial delegation on a two-day visit to Syria.

President Al-Assad: Syrian-Iranian Relations Have Remained Stable Despite Political Storms

During the plenary talks with the Iranian President, President al-Assad said “the Syrian-Iranian relations are rich in content, rich in experiences and rich in the insights that constituted them, and therefore, these relations were, during hard times, stable and firm despite of the severe political and security storms which struck the Middle East Region.”.

President al-Assad added “our ties were established for more than four decades, and the political storms changed concepts, blew up foundations and destroyed entire countries, but they failed to affect the consistent vision that our two countries share about the events that were taking place,” .

His Excellency said “the joint vision of the two countries has proven to be based on correct and firm foundations, based on values, principles and beliefs, and most importantly, on the interests of the peoples and on their sovereignty and independence.”.

The President added that “the relations between our two countries are built on loyalty, when an unjust war was waged against Iran in 1980 for eight years, Syria did not hesitate to stand by Iran despite the threats and temptations at that time.”

President Al-Assad said “in the same way, when the war has been launched against Syria since 12 years ago, Iran supported Syria despite the threats, and did not hesitate to provide all political and economic support, but rather offered blood, and the blood is the most precious thing that a person can offer to his neighbor.

President Raisi: The Syrian people overcame difficulties and achieved victory

For his part, Iranian President Raisi said “Syria, Government and People, have gone through large difficulties, and today we can say that you have surpassed all these problems and achieved victory despite of the threats and sanctions imposed on you.”.

President Raisi expressed his sincere congratulations to the Syrian government and people for these great victories. “The whole world certainly praises this resistance that Syria has shown,” he said.

The president added that “the relations between the government and the people of Syria and between the government and the people of Iran are old and stem from the heart.”.

“We are currently witnessing many political developments and changes in the region and the world, but the relations between the two countries have not and will not be affected by these changes and developments, and I believe that the coming circumstances will also be so, and these relations will not be affected by changes and conditions in the world and the region.” President Raisi said.

President Raisi added “Syrians have certainly had difficult days, but I hope we will witness days full of joy, success for this country.”.

“The rightness of the status of Iran and Syria and the rationality of this track and that the resistance has brought its fruits, and yesterday some may have been hesitating about the stance and the political position of Iran and Syria, but today everyone believes that this stance and this track is of truth and justice one.” the Iranian president added.

He went on to say that “The circumstances were difficult, but in the end we witnessed that the resistance was proved and it became clear to everyone that the victorious track is the resistance.”.

President Raisi said: “Surrender certainly has costs, and a percise price, and certainly its price will be greater than the price of resistance, and some who thought that by surrendering to the enemy would pay a lower price, then it became clear to everyone that this view is a wrong.”.

The Iranian president added: “We have always declared that the Islamic Republic of Iran supports the resistance front, and since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, we have declared our support for the resistance fronts, and now we also affirm that we support and stand by the resistance front.”.

His Excellency believes that the current world order has changed and will ultimately be in interest of the resistance front.

Raisi affirmed that the bilateral ties of Syria and Iran and the communication between their leaderships and peoples are deep rooted that they certainly cannot be fractured.

The Iranian President added that Iran is a friend through hardships, thus, has declared support to the peoples of Syria and Iraq during the Takfiri war led by the Takfiri groups against Syria, aiming at changing the regional order as well as the Syrian and Iraqi governments.

“We hope that Syria will achieve peace and prosperity,” the Iranian President said. “Iran has been, and still is, standing side by side with Syria, particularly during the period of reconstruction and there is no question that the Syrians themselves are able to clean up the ravages of the war. The world will also witness the Syrians return to their homeland.”.

“I have mercy on the souls of the martyrs of the axis of resistance, and the martyrs of Syria, and I wish health and a speedy recovery for those injured in the war”. The Iranian president concluded his speech by saying.

President al-Assad and Iranian President Raisi discussed the bilateral relations in various fields and means of developing them.

Talks also dealt with the latest developments in the Middle East region and the reflections of the global changes on the region, and unifying efforts to invest these changes for the benefit of the two countries and the people of the region.

The Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Damascus International Airport on Wednesday, accompanied by a large ministerial political and economic delegation.

An official reception ceremony was held for the Iranian President upon his arrival at the Poeple’s Palace, the two national anthems of Syria and Iran were played, then the two Presidents reviewed the guard of honor, and shook hands with members of the two official delegations.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency