STORY: Syrian FM vows to defy unauthorized foreign forces in Syria
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 11, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 12, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:20
LOCATION: Damascus
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the ministers entering
2. various of the press conference
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): FAISAL MEKDAD, Syrian Foreign Minister
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): FAISAL MEKDAD, Syrian Foreign Minister
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Persian): HOSSEIN AMIR-ABDOLLAHIAN, Iranian Foreign Minister

STORYLINE:

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad reiterated on Sunday that Syria's top priority is to defy the presence of any unauthorized foreign forces on its territory.

At a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in the Syrian capital Damascus, Mekdad said it is a priority of the Syrian leadership to end the Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights.

Another top task is to "liberate" occupied territories in eastern Syria from American forces and those in northern Syria from the Turks, he noted.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): FAISAL MEKDAD, Syrian Foreign Minister
"I assure you that ending the Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights is at the top of our sacred tasks that the Syrian Arab people are seeking to achieve. Also, the departure of American forces from eastern Syria and the departure of the Turks from northern Syria."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): FAISAL MEKDAD, Syrian Foreign Minister
"This unlawful occupation must be resisted, and Syria is ready to pay the price for liberating its land."

For his part, Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran condemns the "illegal presence" of foreign parties in parts of Syrian territory.

He noted that Iran's military advisors will continue to support Syria despite recent reports about a possible withdrawal of Iran's military advisors in the wake of repeated Israeli attacks on their positions.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Persian): HOSSEIN AMIR-ABDOLLAHIAN, Iranian Foreign Minister
"Tehran condemns the unauthorized presence of these foreign parties in parts of Syrian territory. During the years of counterterrorism in Syria, Iranian military advisors have stood by Syria, its government, people, and leadership with all their strength, and we continue to stand by Syria as we pursue the path of counterterrorism."

The minister also revealed that he conveyed an invitation from Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to visit Iran.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Damascus.
(XHTV)