Al-Moallem: Arab League’s Decision on Sunday Closed All Windows with Syria
Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem said on Monday that the Arab League's decision on Sunday closed all windows with Syria, pointing out that some of the League's members and pushing for turning the Syrian matter into an international issue.
In a press conference, al-Moallem said that the army gave martyrs to protect civilians and confront terrorists, noting that when some call on the army to cease violence, they are making a false accusation, adding that the Arab League refuses to acknowledge the existence of armed terrorist groups committing murder and abduction and attacking state establishments.
The Foreign Minister affirmed Syria's commitment to the agreed-upon Arab work plan made in Doha, adding that the Arab Ministerial Committee and that Arab League violated this plan.
"They suspended Syria's participation in the Arab League's meetings because they don't want to hear the other voice," he pointed out.
Al-Moallem stressed that the draft protocol presented by the Arab Ministerial Committee infringes upon Syria's national sovereignty and is basically a submission protocol.
He pointed out that Algeria's amendments to the protocol meet 80% of the amendments Syria suggested, and that Algeria suggested adding the amendments to the protocol as an appendix.
"However, the Arab League's answer to the Algerian amendments was that nothing can be amended and the correspondences cannot be considered an appendix to the protocol... this rejection of amendment meant to impose the protocol as a project for submission," al-Moallem elaborated.
He went on to stress that the Arab League's sanctions, particularly the fifth article, show a preemptive intent for escalation against Syria and is an indicator towards turning the matter into an international issue.
"The Arab work plan was clear... but the League's intents were not honest," al-Moallem said.
The Foreign Minister affirmed that reforms will continue and that there is serious commitment to national unity which will involve the authority, the opposition and the millions of Syrians who have clear demands and must be represented in national dialogue, adding that those who have a patriotic spirit and care for the country should promote dialogue.
"Stop funding gunmen in Syria and media instigation against it... we want you to take steps to control borders... we are prepared to cooperate with neighboring countries," he said, noting that armed terrorist groups intensified their crimes after the army and security forces exited some towns.
Al-Moallem stressed that the sanctions imposed by the Arab League target the Syrian people, wondering what good the Arab League is without Syria, adding "I invite them to study Syria's history since Gouraud's ultimatum and not direct ultimatums or sanctions at us."
He went on to say "the interests of our people come first... the people who took to squares in hundreds of thousands said their words... I assure you that the Syrian people's word is the Syrian leadership's decision."
Al-Moallem said that halting dealing with the Central Bank is a declaration of economic war from the viewpoint of international law, adding "if they want to deal with Syria with reason and care then they should cancel all those sanctions."
He stressed that the deviation from the Arab work plan showed that there are Arab countries who chose to be a part in the project against Syria.
"Al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya are leading a war aiming to shed Syrian blood," he affirmed.
The Foreign Minister affirmed that the Syrian army is carrying out its duties to the fullest, stressing that significant achievements were made in controlling the borders and protecting citizens from the attacks of terrorist groups, adding "up to the day, the Syrian army hasn't used a single tank's cannon or aviation or heavy weaponry, rather only personal weapons... today most cities contain law-enforcement forces."
"there are those who jumped on the bandwagon of turmoil in the Arab world and made Arabs submit to and carry out the plan devised for each country," al-Moallem explained, stressing that there will be no war or foreign military action against Syria and that the most that can be done is economic and political sanctions.
"We must have faith in our national economy... these sanctions will pose no danger to Syrians' daily lives, as our people are accustomed to pressure," he said, noting that 60% of Syria's economy relies on agricultural production so the Syrians will not go hungry or cold, but some luxuries may be lacking for a while, adding that most foreign investments are focused in real estate projects which Syrian can compensate for.
He saluted the honorable Iraqi stance which is keen on both the Syrian and Iraqi people, as well as the Lebanese stance.
"Syria will emerge from the situation stronger, putting a stop to those who jumped on the foreign bandwagon and restoring sense to a few," the Foreign Minister said.
Source: SANA
