Al-Moallem: Arab League Reflect Unbalanced Stances on Syria
Local Editor
Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem on Sunday said the draft protocol presented to Syria by the Arab League (AL) includes items that reflect unbalanced stances taken by member states of the AL and its ministerial committee since the crisis began in Syria.
In a press conference, Al-Moallem added that Syria has dealt with the issue with a positive spirit out of its keenness on continuing work within the frame of the Arab League, "although any protocol according to international norms is the result of the agreement between two parties and not dictated by one party on the other."
The Minister noted that Syria received on Saturday a letter from the AL Secretary General, which said that the AL Secretariat General is not in the position to respond to the Syrian amendments.
The AL Secretary General's letter followed another letter previously sent by Syria two days before including proposed amendments to the AL draft protocol regarding the legal status and the tasks of the AL observer mission to be sent to Syria.
"The AL mission has the freedom of movement...We have not restricted its movement and we have nothing to hide at all....They have to see the crimes of killing and slaughter being perpetrated against our citizens and the law enforcement forces...What we asked for is to be informed of the places the mission will go to," said al-Moallem.
He added that "We in Syria don't consider that the time period needed by the AL mission to fulfill its task is the key issue but rather the content. If [their] intentions are good, they shouldn't adhere to the period...We care that the mission's tasks will be carried out well."
Minister al-Moallem said that there are Arab sides that want to use the Arab League as a tool to take the Syrian issue to the Security Council. He added "We want our people to be sure that we will work through every small window so as not to let the Arab League turn into a tool."
He stressed that the Syrian leadership's decision always stems from the pulse of the Syrian people, highlighting how the Syrians went out to the streets and squares in expression of their rejection of foreign interference and the Arab League's decisions against Syria.
"The problem in Syria can only be solved by the Syrians," said al-Moallem.
On Syria's response to the pressures on the Arab, Islamic and international levels, al-Moallem said that they are continuation to a series of pressures practiced against Syrian since the beginning of the crisis by countries like the US and the EU, in addition to the Arab states now.
"If fight was forced on us, we shall fight. But we hope and we are working so that fight wouldn't be forced on us," al-Mollaem said in an answer to a question, stressing that Syria "is not in need of any logistic support from any Arab country," and that Damascus is coordinating with the Russian friends at every step.
The Minister went on saying that "What is taking place in Syria is armed groups attacking the citizens, the law enforcement and army forces," stressing that the Syrian people are able to defend their homeland.
Whether the Syrian government will allow the opposition inside the country to accompany the Arab observers in case they come to Syria or not, the Minister said "that is the role and responsibility of Syria, no one can behave on behalf of it, but the observers can meet the opposition if they want."
On the Arab efforts' chance and whether the crisis in Syria will shift into internationalization or not, al-Moallem added "We will use all windows available in the Arab joint action, and we will repeat this till the Arabs say we don't want you in the League."
Minister al-Moallem said national dialogue is the main foundation for building Syria and a major necessity to draw up a common vision for Syria's future in a participatory way.
In response about the murder and kidnapping of citizens in Homs, al-Moallem said that the stances of some western countries lead to these crimes because they encourage the criminals who perpetrate them, noting that these countries and the Arab League ignore the armed criminal groups who kill based on one's identity, stressing that there will not be a civil war no matter how much they try to start one.
On the statements of "Israeli" war minister Ehud Barak, the Foreign Minister said that "Israel" is an enemy who usurped Syria's lands and therefore Syria will not address this enemy, adding that these statements makes the people more committed to their leadership.
Source: SANA, edited by moqawama.org
Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem on Sunday said the draft protocol presented to Syria by the Arab League (AL) includes items that reflect unbalanced stances taken by member states of the AL and its ministerial committee since the crisis began in Syria.
In a press conference, Al-Moallem added that Syria has dealt with the issue with a positive spirit out of its keenness on continuing work within the frame of the Arab League, "although any protocol according to international norms is the result of the agreement between two parties and not dictated by one party on the other."
The Minister noted that Syria received on Saturday a letter from the AL Secretary General, which said that the AL Secretariat General is not in the position to respond to the Syrian amendments.
The AL Secretary General's letter followed another letter previously sent by Syria two days before including proposed amendments to the AL draft protocol regarding the legal status and the tasks of the AL observer mission to be sent to Syria.
"The AL mission has the freedom of movement...We have not restricted its movement and we have nothing to hide at all....They have to see the crimes of killing and slaughter being perpetrated against our citizens and the law enforcement forces...What we asked for is to be informed of the places the mission will go to," said al-Moallem.
He added that "We in Syria don't consider that the time period needed by the AL mission to fulfill its task is the key issue but rather the content. If [their] intentions are good, they shouldn't adhere to the period...We care that the mission's tasks will be carried out well."
Minister al-Moallem said that there are Arab sides that want to use the Arab League as a tool to take the Syrian issue to the Security Council. He added "We want our people to be sure that we will work through every small window so as not to let the Arab League turn into a tool."
He stressed that the Syrian leadership's decision always stems from the pulse of the Syrian people, highlighting how the Syrians went out to the streets and squares in expression of their rejection of foreign interference and the Arab League's decisions against Syria.
"The problem in Syria can only be solved by the Syrians," said al-Moallem.
On Syria's response to the pressures on the Arab, Islamic and international levels, al-Moallem said that they are continuation to a series of pressures practiced against Syrian since the beginning of the crisis by countries like the US and the EU, in addition to the Arab states now.
"If fight was forced on us, we shall fight. But we hope and we are working so that fight wouldn't be forced on us," al-Mollaem said in an answer to a question, stressing that Syria "is not in need of any logistic support from any Arab country," and that Damascus is coordinating with the Russian friends at every step.
The Minister went on saying that "What is taking place in Syria is armed groups attacking the citizens, the law enforcement and army forces," stressing that the Syrian people are able to defend their homeland.
Whether the Syrian government will allow the opposition inside the country to accompany the Arab observers in case they come to Syria or not, the Minister said "that is the role and responsibility of Syria, no one can behave on behalf of it, but the observers can meet the opposition if they want."
On the Arab efforts' chance and whether the crisis in Syria will shift into internationalization or not, al-Moallem added "We will use all windows available in the Arab joint action, and we will repeat this till the Arabs say we don't want you in the League."
Minister al-Moallem said national dialogue is the main foundation for building Syria and a major necessity to draw up a common vision for Syria's future in a participatory way.
In response about the murder and kidnapping of citizens in Homs, al-Moallem said that the stances of some western countries lead to these crimes because they encourage the criminals who perpetrate them, noting that these countries and the Arab League ignore the armed criminal groups who kill based on one's identity, stressing that there will not be a civil war no matter how much they try to start one.
On the statements of "Israeli" war minister Ehud Barak, the Foreign Minister said that "Israel" is an enemy who usurped Syria's lands and therefore Syria will not address this enemy, adding that these statements makes the people more committed to their leadership.
Source: SANA, edited by moqawama.org
