Information Minister: Some 300 Media Outlets are Permitted into Syria to Cover Events
DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi stressed that the government pursues a
clear policy in dealing with foreign media that wants to cover the events of the crisis in Syria, in permitting journalists into the country, at the approval of the Ministry of Information due to the existing conditions to maintain journalists safety .
Meeting with the delegation representing the Polish branch of the European Centre for Strategic Studies, currently visiting Syria, the minister added that the ministry allowed more than 300 media outlets to visit the country and convey facts taking place on the ground , asserting that the Ministry “does not interfere in their work and considers that a journalist is free to write from his point of view because a professional and impartial journalist will only write the truth. ”
He explained to the delegation, the implications behind the killing of French journalist Gilles Jacquet early last year in Homs after he entered the country illegally and was targeted by terrorists , pointing that the French government stopped demanding investigations to disclose the identity of his killers after it became clear they were from terrorist groups that the French government continues demanding providing them with weapons.
The Minister indicated that by allowing media coverage of current events on its soil since two years , Syria seeks to acquaint the foreign public opinion that Syria is fighting on behalf of the world and human civilization against terrorists and obscurantist , pointing that the Ministry of Information has dealt with the media outlets, regardless of their affiliation and position towards the Syrian people.
He continued that the ministry “will make documentary films presented facts about the crisis in Syria in different languages for the European recipient.”
“There is a confusion in the terminology used by the media and European media which described terrorists who come to Syria from various spots as ” jihadists “, while in reality they are criminals and vandals.” The minister emphasized .
He warned against the spillover of the phenomenon of extremists from European nationalities who come to Syria for fighting the Syrian army and people, explaining that their number is “estimated at one thousand now will constitute a real threat to their communities when they return to the countries they came from.”
The minister denied “information published by the European media on the Syrian Army use of chemical weapons in the war waged against terrorism,” adding that Syria rejects the use of these weapons on moral , principled, and political grounds as an expression of its international obligations “, adding that Syria invited the UN to investigate the terrorist use of chemical weapons in Khan al-Asal in Aleppo, but the UN turned over this call after being pressured by parties involved in supporting terrorists.
Members of the delegation expressed “fear over the increasing number of terrorists who arrived to Syria from European countries and fought with extremist organizations” . They asked for lists of the names of these terrorists nationalities and the countries they came from especially as ” several families of these terrorists filed complaints before European competent authorities to bring back their children.”
T. Fateh