Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said Saturday that Syria does not want to be a center of polarization but seeks balanced and cooperative relations with all countries.
Speaking at the 2025 Manama Dialogue Forum, al-Shaibani said Syria aims to build its relations on the basis of cooperation and openness while maintaining balance with regional and international partners.
He noted that the rule of law should serve as the foundation for unity among Syria's diverse communities, reaffirming the government's commitment to promoting civil peace and justice across the country.
"We have faced challenges during the past period, but we did not surrender to them. We remained committed to achieving civil peace and justice," the minister said.
Al-Shaibani revealed that more than 250,000 persons remain missing due to actions of the former regime, calling for humanitarian cooperation to determine their fate.
He added that Syria takes pride in its cultural and ethnic diversity and extends its hand to allies and friends in the region "in ways that benefit everyone."
The Manama Dialogue is an annual regional security conference founded in 2004 and hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain. The 2025 edition of the forum focuses on regional stability, conflict resolution, and multilateral cooperation, amid ongoing tensions and shifting alliances in the region.