Deputy Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad: There Is Syrian-Chinese Security Coordination

In a TV interview, Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad confirmed that there was Syrian-Chinese coordination, especially with regard to security matters, and said: "Our Chinese friends... know that we are engaged in a relentless war against terrorism, and that this terrorism targets them just like it targets Syria." The interview aired on the official Syrian TV channel on October 7, 2015.

Following are excerpts:

Faisal Mekdad: With regard to our Chinese friends – we are friends. We are fighting the same war against terrorism. Some players are trying to harp on the sectarian disputes even in China, where you have the Uyghurs, whose origins are in Turkey. There are Uyghur families who were brought over by the Turkish government, and many of them are said to be living in several Syrian villages. The Syrian inhabitants were driven out, and the Uyghurs settled there. They are supported by the Erdogan regime in Turkey. We tell out Chinese friends that we share the same war on terrorism, and that we are ready to accept any role of our Chinese friends and brothers.

Interviewer: But this has not happened so far?

Faisal Mekdad: We do not disclose military or intelligence information via the media, but our Chinese friends understand the situation in Syria, and they know that we are engaged in a relentless war against terrorism, and that this terrorism targets them just like it targets Syria. Therefore, I can confirm that there is Syrian-Chinese coordination, especially with regard to security, so that the supporters of terrorism will not send these militants and terrorists into the land of our friend, China.

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