Syrian Media is Targeted to Prevent Revealing Objectives of Aggression – Jaafari

NEWYORK,(ST)_ Syria’s permanent representative to the UN Dr. Bashar Jaafari stressed  that the Syrian media is being targeted by terrorist groups and countries supporting  them. 

Political analyst   Mohammed Dirar Jammo was assassinated by same sides  that sponsor terrorist groups in Syria

 Jaafari said in a speech yesterday during a UN Security Council meeting on the situation of civilians and journalists in armed conflicts: ”  We lost the political analyst   Mohammed Dirar Jammo, who was assassinated early Wednesday by armed terrorist group  which receives arms ,funding and support from the same parties, nations and governments that sponsor terrorist groups in Syria in the town of Sarafand in southern Lebanon while he was with his 17-year-old daughter.

 He added that the Syrian government  has consistently dealt openly  with the media and issued since the beginning of the crisis a new  media law in a reform step aimed at strengthening media work and attaining  more freedom and transparency.

Jaafari continued that  the Syrian government committed itself to uncovering facts in cooperation with the UN former Special Envoy of Kofi Annan and the implementation of the six-point plan including the fifth item on the entry and work of journalists , and Annan was periodically notified with  the names of journalists who entered the country and their number  during the period from 25 March to 21 May 2012 in less than two months was  more than 166 Arab and foreign media outlets. 

Reporters of more than  300 media outlets were allowed officially  since the beginning of 2013 

He  pointed out that the Ministry of Information officially allowed since the beginning of this year reporters from  more than 300 media outlets from around the world to practice their work freely.

Jaafari added that two French journalists are  still kidnapped by  terrorist groups while others were  lost  and terrorist groups assassinated  several journalists including French journalist Jill Jackie.

Jaafari  continued that  the Syrian government has made great efforts in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to free  abducted journalists and evacuate their wounded and the bodies of the dead from the areas where the armed terrorist groups are stationed and bring them back to their homes.

 ” On behalf of the Syrian government, I extended  official letters to both the UN  Secretary-General and the heads of the Security Council included information on  the number of journalists who have entered Syrian territory illegally .

Huge media machine mobilized to incite violence and terrorism and fabricate lies to distort reality and ignite strife in Syria

Jaafari stressed  that enormous media has been  mobilized to incite violence and terrorism and fabricate lies to distort reality and ignite the fire of strife in Syria ,in the context of certain  countries  pursuit to achieve their geopolitical objectives  and undermine Syria ‘s  infrastructure and national institutions, representing a gross violation of the provisions of UN Security Council resolution 1624 of 2005, a decision which prohibits terrorism incitement .

He explained  that the Syrian national media was also  exposed to terrorist acts of sabotage, including the attack on the headquarters of al-Ikhbareia  Channel  on 27 June 2012 when one  armed terrorist group bombed and looted its contents and killed four guards and three journalists , while the Syrian TV  and radio  building was attacked on  August 6, 2012 by  an improvised explosive device and the bomber   was recently  arrested and  acknowledged he had received orders to carry out  this terrorist act from inside Saudi Arabia.

Jaafari pointed out that these acts of terror resulted in the death of 9  journalists and 23 workers  in the Syrian media organizations , while  39 media men were kidnapped or assaulted.

He noted the decision of the Arab League in June 2nd  2012 provided to stop broadcasting Syrian TV stations on   Nilesat and Arabsat,  and another decision banning  the Syrian TV on the  European Hotbird. 

Jaafari noted that the Pakistani Taliban recently announced the involvement of hundreds of its members against the Syrian  government forces in Syria , at the request of what they called  Arab friends who helped them earlier in Afghanistan. 

Jaafari  underlined that resignations of many journalists from  channels that promote sedition and inciting violence and bloodshed in Syria, Egypt and other countries have had an important role in detecting the  destructive role played by certain  media in violating  values and noble principles governing  media  work . 

T. Fateh