ID :
62322
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 07:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/62322
The shortlink copeid
SYRIA KEEN ON BOOSTING TIES WITH MALAYSIA, SAYS FM
From Muin Abdul Majid
DAMASCUS, May 25 (Bernama) -- Syria is seeking to forge closer ties with Malaysia, including increasing the level of Malaysian participation in the Arab republic's development and economic activities.
This was conveyed in Saturday's talks between Malaysian Foreign Minister
Anifah Aman and Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Al Otri on the sidelines of
the 36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organisation
of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Describing the meeting as warm and cordial, Anifah told Bernama: "He had a
lot of praise for Malaysia, having visited our country in January this year. And
Syria is looking towards working very closely with Malaysia on all fronts."
Malaysian companies are involved in several initiatives in Syria, including
an airport project in Damascus.
Another possible area for cooperation is in the oil and gas sector, said
Anifah, who headed the Malaysian delegation at the CFM meeting in the Syrian
capital.
The foreign minister said Otri indicated that the two countries should
continue to communicate with each other to express views as well as iron out
whatever problems that may arise.
Syria was keen to emulate Malaysia's achievements as a Muslim country, he
said, adding that they also talked about their common stand on the Palestine
issue and exchanged views on the 57-nation OIC.
Syria covers 185,180 sq km, including 1,295 sq km of land under Israeli
occupation.
Its main exports include crude oil, petroleum products, fruits and
vegetables, cotton fibre, clothing, meat and live animals, and wheat.
Turning to the Jeddah-based OIC, the Malaysian foreign minister said the
grouping had crafted numerous resolutions during its 40-year existence but "we
have not implemented much".
"What I'm saying is that we must implement the implementable, be they
projects or resolutions. The OIC should also emphasise on the economy besides
politics as countries must be stable not only politically but also economically
to achieve progress," he said in the interview with Bernama.
Anifah first brought up the matter in his statement delivered at the CFM
meeting Saturday, in which he said there was a need to task the OIC
secretary-general and its respective committees to redefine the priorities of
the grouping which represents 1.5 billion Muslims on the planet.
This, he said, was to ensure that the OIC could effectively and efficiently
utilise limited resources towards "implementing the implementable", as only
through such focused efforts could the organisation look towards achieving
tangible results.
Anifah said the OIC must see to it that whatever was agreed upon through
resolutions adopted by member countries should be implemented or they risk
looking good only on paper.
Regarding Malaysia's backing for the Philippine bid to get an observer seat
in the OIC, the minister said it would enable the grouping of Muslim nations to
assist Manila in addressing issues pertaining to its Muslim population.
According to him, it could be said that the spirit of Asean was at work, as
the proposal to accept the request by the Philippines over the OIC observer
status came from Indonesia while Brunei had also supported it.
Anifah left Damascus for Hanoi, Vietnam, on Sunday for the Ninth Asia-Europe
Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
-- BERNAMA
DAMASCUS, May 25 (Bernama) -- Syria is seeking to forge closer ties with Malaysia, including increasing the level of Malaysian participation in the Arab republic's development and economic activities.
This was conveyed in Saturday's talks between Malaysian Foreign Minister
Anifah Aman and Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Al Otri on the sidelines of
the 36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organisation
of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Describing the meeting as warm and cordial, Anifah told Bernama: "He had a
lot of praise for Malaysia, having visited our country in January this year. And
Syria is looking towards working very closely with Malaysia on all fronts."
Malaysian companies are involved in several initiatives in Syria, including
an airport project in Damascus.
Another possible area for cooperation is in the oil and gas sector, said
Anifah, who headed the Malaysian delegation at the CFM meeting in the Syrian
capital.
The foreign minister said Otri indicated that the two countries should
continue to communicate with each other to express views as well as iron out
whatever problems that may arise.
Syria was keen to emulate Malaysia's achievements as a Muslim country, he
said, adding that they also talked about their common stand on the Palestine
issue and exchanged views on the 57-nation OIC.
Syria covers 185,180 sq km, including 1,295 sq km of land under Israeli
occupation.
Its main exports include crude oil, petroleum products, fruits and
vegetables, cotton fibre, clothing, meat and live animals, and wheat.
Turning to the Jeddah-based OIC, the Malaysian foreign minister said the
grouping had crafted numerous resolutions during its 40-year existence but "we
have not implemented much".
"What I'm saying is that we must implement the implementable, be they
projects or resolutions. The OIC should also emphasise on the economy besides
politics as countries must be stable not only politically but also economically
to achieve progress," he said in the interview with Bernama.
Anifah first brought up the matter in his statement delivered at the CFM
meeting Saturday, in which he said there was a need to task the OIC
secretary-general and its respective committees to redefine the priorities of
the grouping which represents 1.5 billion Muslims on the planet.
This, he said, was to ensure that the OIC could effectively and efficiently
utilise limited resources towards "implementing the implementable", as only
through such focused efforts could the organisation look towards achieving
tangible results.
Anifah said the OIC must see to it that whatever was agreed upon through
resolutions adopted by member countries should be implemented or they risk
looking good only on paper.
Regarding Malaysia's backing for the Philippine bid to get an observer seat
in the OIC, the minister said it would enable the grouping of Muslim nations to
assist Manila in addressing issues pertaining to its Muslim population.
According to him, it could be said that the spirit of Asean was at work, as
the proposal to accept the request by the Philippines over the OIC observer
status came from Indonesia while Brunei had also supported it.
Anifah left Damascus for Hanoi, Vietnam, on Sunday for the Ninth Asia-Europe
Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
-- BERNAMA
