Indian Envoy Akbar Visits Syria: The ’Age of Destruction’ Should Give Way to the ’Age of Re-construction’e

PRESS RELEASE

Indian Envoy Akbar Visits Syria: The ’Age of Destruction’ Should Give Way to the ’Age of Reconstruction’

Aug. 22, 2016 (EIRNS)—On Aug. 20 in Damascus, India’s junior Foreign Minister Mubashir Javed Akbar met with President Bashar al-Assad, for talks in which Assad invited India to play an active role in the reconstruction of the Syrian economy. Also, state media in both countries report that the two officials made a point of rejecting the practice of "foreign interference in the internal affairs of states."

According to the Press Trust of India, the two sides also discussed terrorism, equality of religion, and the need to upgrade bilateral security consultations. The Syrian state news agency, SANA, reported that Akbar said,

"India is ready to offer all that could help in alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people and contribute effectively to the development process and reconstruction in Syria."

This is in line with the Russian and the BRICS perspective, whose 2015 Summit was hosted by Russia, and whose 2016 Summit will be in India. The same weekend that Akbar met with Assad, Dep. Prime Minister Rogozin made an unannounced visit to New Delhi, to confer directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.