Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad addresses the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Sept 27, 2021, at UN headquarters in New York. (JOHN MINCHILLO / POOL / AFP)

UNITED NATIONS - Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad on Monday urged the United States and its western allies to end "economic terrorism" and commended China and Russia for upholding international law.

My country also demands to put an end to the "economic terrorism" imposed by the United States and its western allies against Iran, Venezuela, Belarus, Nicaragua, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and my country Syria in accordance with international law and UN resolutions.

Faisal Mekdad, Syrian foreign minister

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"My country also demands to put an end to the 'economic terrorism' imposed by the United States and its western allies against Iran, Venezuela, Belarus, Nicaragua, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and my country Syria in accordance with international law and UN resolutions," Mekdad spoke at the General Debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Syria also supports Russia and China's efforts to uphold international law, maintain security and stability, and promote development worldwide, in the face of the hegemonic policies and interference attempts of some countries, said the foreign minister of the war-torn country in Western Asia.

"Syria expresses its full support of, and solidarity with, the Islamic Republic of Iran in the face of the illegal and irresponsible US measures against it, especially following the US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement," he said.

"In this regard, Syria condemns the economic embargo imposed on Cuba for decades now, and the American militarization of the situation in the Korean Peninsula," the minister added.

Mekdad stressed that "if COVID-19 would claim one life in the absence of so-called sanctions, it would claim so many more when they are in place."

"As the special rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights said, 'Sanctions are bringing suffering and death in countries like Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen', " he said.

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