Zoubi: Presidential Election, Real Opportunity for all Syrians to Express their Will

DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Information Minister Omran Zoubi stressed that the presidential elections due tomorrow, Tuesday, is a real opportunity for all the Syrians to express their will transparently,to choose their candidate for the post of President of the Republic.

“The conviction of the majority of the Syrians is moving toward the importance of participating in the elections on the grounds that the Syrian people longed for the return of security and stability to their country.” Zoubi added in an interview with the Syrian TV last night :

He added that the elections will witness turnout of the Syrians to the polls in all governorates, noting that delegations from many countries will accompany the elections in addition to more than two hundred media outlets, including the national, official and private media.

“For the first time Syria is experiencing pluralism in the presidential elections,” Zoubi continued, pointing out that no one can dictate voters to choose their candidate for this position, in reflection of respecting the will of voters and in compliance with the rules of the election law and its executive instructions.

The minister considered that the fight against terrorism should be a priority for any candidate, being aware that winning the presidential post stems from the will of the people and not just from a personal national feeling.

Commenting on the prevention of some Arab and foreign countries of the election process on their territories, Zoubi said, that states that prevented the election process committed a grave mistake in violating the rules of international conventions, in particular the Vienna Convention on consular and diplomatic action, and have no right to interfere in this matter because they are held in the Syria Embassy, which is considered part of the Syrian territory, stressing that the reasons put by some countries to prevent the Syrians from the election are unjustified, rather show their commitment to the policy of US and so-called “Friends of Syria ” towards Syria.

On the decision of the Lebanese Ministry of Interior to prevent the displaced Syrians to return to Lebanon in the event of their return to Syria, the minister said that this decision violates the rules of the international law, pointing out that the Syrian government,people and institutions did not treat the Lebanese people when they came to Syria as a result of the Israeli attacks on Lebanon as refugees or displaced, rather opened their homes for them.

T. Fateh