Al-Halqi to al-Manar: Government Committed to Dialogue to Solve Crisis

Damascus- Syria has welcomed the UN Security Council resolution No.2118 on Syria as it goes in harmony with the state’s announced stance on joining the Chemical Weapon Convention (CWC), Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi has stressed.

Interviewed by the Lebanese al-Manar TV on Saturday, al-Halqi said the resolution was the result of several US-Russian meetings, contacts and talks.

 “The content of the resolution goes in line with what we have repeatedly announced,” the premier added, affirming that Syria will keep working with the UN in order to make the region free of Mass Destruction Weapons (WMD).

“Syria believes that weapons of mass destruction are basically used in a state of collapse or despair, and Syria hasn’t reached and will not reach this situation, on the contrary, the country is proceeding towards victory,” al-Halqi said.

He stressed that “Syria’s decision to join the Chemical Weapons Convention was motivated by the state’s commitment to protecting its people, avoiding the Syrians an aggression by the United States and its allies, saving the lives of innocent people and protecting the country’s economic establishments and infrastructure”.

The Premier pointed out that Syria has got different qualitative weapons, other than the chemical weapon, that can achieve strategic balance with Israel at any stage of the conflict.

The Syrian people are the victim of the criminal acts perpetrated by the foreign-backed armed terrorist groups, al-Halqi said, reiterating that the Syrian government along with the Syrian Arab Army will keep doing their national and constitutional task to protect the Syrian people from the global terrorism which is represented in more than 1500 terrorist takfiri groups coming from more 83 countries.

Concerning the international Conference on Syria scheduled to be held in Geneva, al-Halqi said Syria has announced its readiness to take part in this conference and hold dialogue with all the political forces which believe in a peaceful political solution to the crisis based on a democratic process in which ballot boxes have the final say.

But, the problem is that some parties and states such as Saudi Arabia, which announced that it will continue to provide military, political and financial support to the opposition, don’t want this solution,” He added.

He stressed that dialogue will be with all national citizens who believe that the solution must be pure Syrian away from any foreign interference or violation of national sovereignty.

 “But we will not talk or negotiate with the terrorists, al-Halqi added.

The premier clarified that the so-called “Doha Coalition” has no true will. Instead it suffers divisions among its ranks and there are many armed groups which don’t recognize it. “Therefore, we should ask who represents this coalition.

Al-Halqi pointed out that any fight between terrorist groups on the Syrian land will have serious repercussions on the people living in the battle area, so, the Syrian people’s interest lies in political solution, the restoration of security and stability and the elimination of terrorism.

The premier stressed the need for a new world order that preserves the national sovereignty of states, respects people’s rights and independent decisions and adopts the international law and the UN Charter as a reference. 

On the Syrian economy, al-Halqi said it has been able to withstand the crisis despite the damage caused to the economic sector and the unethical Western sanctions, because it is a diverse economy.

He added that among the measures adopted by government to bridge the gap between the citizen’s income and price increases was the social support through which the government helps citizens get some basic goods in reasonable prices.

“The Syrian economy can withstand for years to come and it begins to heal,” al-Halqi said, referring to the development attained in the sectors of investment and securities exchange.

H. Mustafa