Syrian FM: Syria Will Respond, Shall Jordan and Turkey Take Part in Aggression

Local Editor

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad warned of the repercussions of a US attack on Syria. He said Damascus would strike back not only at "Israel", but also at Syria's neighbors Jordan and Turkey if they take part in any US-led operation.

The Syrian official said two of America's top allies in the region, Jordan and Turkey, should think twice before participating.
"Once the attack against Syria starts from Jordan then Jordan will suffer," said Mr. Mekdad.
Jordan has publicly affirmed its neutrality in the Syrian conflict, but the country is host to an effort sponsored by the US Central Intelligence Agency and Saudi Arabia to train and arm rebels opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal at his office in Damascus on Tuesday, al-Mekdad said "We hope the American representatives will exercise wisdom, will listen to the voice of justice, not to provocative actions."
"We love the American people, we have millions of Americans of Arab origin including Syrians and we do not want wars with the United States," added the diplomat, who served as his country's envoy to the United Nations in New York from 2003 to 2006.

While he repeatedly called for reconciliation he still warned of war noting "Once the war starts nobody can control what will happen. We believe that any attack against Syria will definitely result in chaos in the entire region if not beyond."
A green light from Congress to attack Syria would be "a tragedy against the Syrian people and the American people and all people in the region," he said.
Mr. Mekdad rejected the US conclusions. "I assure them that the Syrian government did not use chemical weapons against Syrians and will not use them against Syrians and will always be ready for dialogue with the American people and its representatives," the deputy foreign minister said.

Mr. Mekdad argued that a US attack would embolden those opposition fighters who are linked to al Qaeda to use chemical weapons.
 
Mr. Mekdad said Syria's two main allies, Iran and Russia, would stand by the regime in the face of any US action, but didn't offer specifics.
"We are being supplied until this minute with Russian arms to defend ourselves," he said. He said Tehran would also intervene to help Syria.
Earlier on Monday, al-Mekdad had accentuated that "Any attack on Syria will set the region ablaze. When the first rocket gets fired, no one can predict the resulted repercussions."

During an exclusive interview with al-Manar TV, the Syrian FM criticized Riyadh position of Syria, and pointed out that the Saudi regime wants to end Syria by every means, to serve the American and Zionist interests.

"The Saudi regime is fallen since long in its people's eye, as well as in the Arab nation's eye. They are facing now the battle of challenge and last downfall."
Fielding a question about the Saudi hastening to attack Syria, al-Mekdad justified it as spite, hatred:

"This is the attitude of the salve who seeks to pacify his master and to present more services which have not been requested."

Addressing the Lebanese file, the Syrian politician expressed beliefs that Lebanon is strong due to its will and diplomats.

"Lebanon is strong because it has the will and the foreign ministers who are able to be united and defend the Lebanese interest," al-Mekdad stressed.

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