Damascus, July 1, (SANA)TheSyrian Arab Republicon Wednesday congratulated the Federal Republic ofSomalia, its leadership and people, on the occasion ofIndependence Day.

In a statement, theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriatesextended best wishes for continued security and stability in Somalia, reaffirming Syria’s keenness to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various fields.

Somalia commemorates “Independence and Unity Day” annually on July 1, marking the independence of the southern regions from Italy in 1960 and their union with the northern regions, which had gained independence from Britain on June 26 of the same year, to establish the unified Somali state.