The president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, imposed this Monday the Francisco de Miranda Award, in its first class, on the ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic, Khalil Bittar, who completed his diplomatic mission in the country.
From the «Simón Bolívar» Hall in Miraflores Palace, the Head of State called for the cessation of foreign interventionism against the noble people of Syria:
«We ask for the foreign interventionism against our Syrian brothers to cease, and for Syria’s right to rebuild and rediscover the path of prosperity and stability to be respected”, demanded the Venezuelan president.
Maduro demanded Syria’s right to rebuild to be respected: “When we talk about relations with Syria, we talk about relations of peace for development (…) we admire the courage and firmness of how the Syrian people have defended their right to peace and sovereignty, how they have faced terrorist gangs and He has defeated them one by one.”
Visit to Damascus:
President Maduro announced an upcoming visit to Damascus to strengthen relations between the peoples of Venezuela and Syria, urging them to prepare for the embrace of hope, peace and brotherhood with President Bashar al-Ássad:
“Very soon we will be in Damascus to further unite our peoples. When we talk about relations with Syria we talk about relations of peace for development”, he said.
In this context, Maduro proposed holding a fair in Damascus for Venezuelan businessmen willing to invest and work with Syria, for which he instructed the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Félix Plasencia, to organize the event together with the Syrian government:
«I propose to hold a good fair for the Venezuelan business community willing to work and invest in Damascus to join efforts between sister peoples (…) just as the peoples of Europe and the Arab world have gone to show their products, their capabilities and their technology to offer their investment,» he said.
He stressed that the Syrian Arab community in Venezuela is very active and hardworking: «We must call them together to work together in the productive and commercial development of both sisterly nations,» added the President.
Positive work:
After paying tribute to the Syrian diplomat, President Maduro stated that «it is for us an act of true friendship with you, Mr. Ambassador, who has done an extraordinary job in Venezuela serving the Arab community.»
For his part, the Syrian diplomat stressed that both countries have 74 years of cultural exchange and in the last 20 have been exalted at the initiative of Commander Hugo Chavez:
«It is for me an honor, and I give my thanks for this decoration that I receive today from your hands, Mr. President,» said the ambassador.
He added that Venezuela and Syria maintain high-level political relations and are working to raise the economic aspect to the same level.
Bittar was Chargé d’Affaires at the Syrian Embassy in Santiago, Chile (2013.), General Diplomatic Director and Director of the Security Area of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (2011), Minister Counselor, Consul and Chargé d’Affaires in the Mission Permanent Representative of Syria before the United Nations Organization (2006-2011), Secretary, Counselor and Charge d’Affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Argentina (1999-2004) and Attaché and Secretary at the Syrian Embassy in Chile (1992-1997).
