Miqdad: Geneva 2 did not fail, Despite Washington, West Capitals Campaign of Intimidation

DAMASCUS,(ST) _Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Dr. Faisal al-Miqdad today met with ambassadors of countries accredited to the Syrian, and heads of diplomatic missions and the UN Resident Representative to Syria.

 During the meeting, Dr. Miqdad gave a presentation on what was made during the first and second rounds of Geneva talks.

He stressed the Syrian government has been working since the beginning of the crisis to reach a peaceful solution, while enemies of Syria supported terrorists with money and weapons and encouraged them to spill the blood of the Syrians and destroy their national institutions and civilization.

He pointed out that Syria had  Geneva 1 statement issued on June 30, 2012 and expressed willingness to participate in the Geneva conference, but the Americans, the Europeans and other terrorists patrons waited more than a year and a half to form a coalition delegation to the dialogue table in Geneva.

He viewed the refusal of the coalition of three documents provided by the Syrian delegation on the political declaration, stop arming terrorists and counter-terrorism during the first round of the Geneva talks without reading them, as an evidence  that the coalition and those behind it do not care to stop blood shed of the Syrians and Syria’s independence and sovereignty nor to reach an agreement that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people as stipulated in Geneva 1 statement.

He continued that the Geneva conference did not fail, despite the campaign of intimidation carried out by Washington and some Western capitals, as the Syrian delegation approved during the second round of talks four key items on ending violence and terrorism, the transitional government, the preservation of state institutions and national reconciliation but the other party impeded to reach all these under various pretexts.

Miqdad praised the objective policy pursued by Russia, China and BRICS countries and other countries that call for honoring the UN Charter and the international law and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and their commitment for the success of the Geneva conference, according to Geneva statement.

He emphasized that Syria will continue by all means to fight terrorism and to achieve peace, pointing to the major accomplishments of the national reconciliation process in many parts of Syria and the progress made by the Syrian army in the fight against terrorism and in restoring security and safety to the country.

T. Fateh