Syrian Deputy FM Insists Damascus Not Isolated Diplomatically

Syria's deputy foreign minister on Wednesday insisted that his war-torn country is not isolated diplomatically, according to remarks published by state news agency SANA.

"Syria has contacts and diplomatic relations. There are 43 diplomatic missions in Syria, which is not as isolated as some might claim," said Faisal Muqdad.

"Contacts are being made to open embassies (in Damascus) and most of Syria's embassies abroad are still open, with the exception of those that Damascus does not want to open," the Syrian official added.

Syria has been ravaged by a civil war for more than two-and-a-half years that has killed 120,000 people and forced millions more to flee their homes.

The conflict erupted after the authorities launched a massive crackdown on an Arab Spring-inspired revolt that demanded political change.

Several Western countries, among them the United States and members of the European Union, as well as Gulf states ended their diplomatic relations with President Bashar Assad's regime in the wake of the crackdown.