Syrian President Bashar Al Assad received on Sunday a delegation from the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, participating in the thirty-fourth meeting of the Arab Parliamentary Union, which concluded on Saturday in Baghdad.

The delegation included Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council, and the speakers of parliaments in Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Libya and Egypt, along with the heads of the two delegations of the Sultanate of Oman and Lebanon, and the Secretary General of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The parliamentary delegation affirmed the Arab Parliament’s support and standing with the Syrian people as well as its continued solidarity after the recent earthquake.

They stressed the need for driving joint Arab action at all levels to ensure Syria returning to its Arab fold and resuming its role at the Arab, regional and international levels.

In the meantime, Assad received separately Ghobash, and his accompanying delegation visiting the Syrian capital.

During the meeting, Ghobash conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Al Assad conveyed to Ghobash his greetings and thanks to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed, commending their support and that of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, for providing relief aid to the Syrian people affected by the recent devastating earthquake.

Ghobash said that the UAE, under the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed is always keen to ensure that its relations with countries are based on solid foundations of mutual cooperation, friendship and respect.

Recently, Assad had received Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in Damascus, to discuss the humanitarian repercussions resulting in the devastating earthquake that struck areas of North-western Syria.

During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah conveyed the condolences and solace of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed to Assad, the Syrian people, and families of the victims as a result of the devastating earthquake Syria witnessed, and prayed to Allah the Almighty to have mercy on them and quick recovery of the injured.

In turn, Assad asked Sheikh Abdullah to reciprocate his greetings and thanks to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikha Fatima for providing assistance to the Syrian people.

He also emphasised that the UAE’s speedy response to the humanitarian relief and the efforts of its field teams have the greatest impact in alleviating the suffering of the humanitarian disaster.

During the meeting, the President of Syria wished further development, prosperity and progress for the UAE and its people in light of its wise leadership.

Sheikh Abdullah visited the areas affected by the devastating earthquake that hit North-western Syria.

He also thanked the UAE search and rescue team in Syria as part of the “Gallant Knight/2” operation to rescue those trapped under the rubble as part of the UAE’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of the earthquake.

He also hailed the continuous efforts of the search and rescue teams and the adoption of the highest standards of security and safety during the process of rescuing survivors from under the rubble of buildings with professionalism and high efficiency.

He stressed that the UAE, under the directives of the wise leadership, is committed to standing by the brotherly Syrian people and providing the necessary support and assistance for the relief of those affected by this humanitarian disaster that left human and material losses so that they can overcome this ordeal.

The UAE had responded immediately to the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Türkiye, reaffirming its full solidarity with the leadership and peoples of the two countries.

The UAE’s urgent mobilisation, its presence among the first countries on the ground, and its participation in rescue operations constitutes a clear embodiment of its humanitarian presence and a sincere expression of its full solidarity with affected communities around the world through relief and humanitarian programmes and projects.

WAM