Al-Mikdad: Terrorism Fighting Duty of All Countries of the World

Beirut- Terrorism Fighting is the duty of all countries of the world, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal al-Mikdad has stressed, pointing out that attempts by western countries to undermine anti-terrorism efforts must be unacceptable by the international community.

“Combating terrorism should be done within the framework of an international alliance and in coordination with concerned countries under the condition of respecting states’ sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” al-Mikdad said in an article published yesterday by the Lebanese “al-Binaa” newspaper.

He added that “Syria, which has been suffering global terrorism backed by Turkey, Israel and some Gulf and western countries, calls on the international community and the west to pressure these countries as to put an end to their support for terrorism in Syria.”

“Western countries should reconsider the way they implement the anti-terror international resolutions, including the Security Council resolution No. 1373 and 2170 which was adopted recently against the terrorist organizations of ISIL and “al-Nousra Front” in Iraq and Syria, al-Mikdad clarified, pointing out that some western countries have undermined the Security Council’s anti-terror mechanism when they insisted on their double standard and selective policies on fighting terrorism and when they clarified that they will combat terrorists in a specific place and ignore it in another, in reference to Syria.

Al-Mikdad criticized the UN’s leniency with the terrorists in Syria and its continuous attempts to cover their real terrorist identity which was acknowledged by the whole international community.

 “Leniency with terrorism when the terrorists of Jabhet al-Nousra and the so-called Free Army attacked personnel of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in the Syrian Golan Heights was more than tragic and regrettable,” al-Mikdad said.

“The way to fight terrorism in Syria is opened within the frame of respecting Syria’s sovereignty and having consultations with the Syrian state, al-Mikdad added, affirming Syrian government’s readiness to be in the heart of every anti-terrorism alliance.

The Syrian diplomat affirmed that the Arab-Israeli conflict and the nonattainment of a just and comprehensive peace in the region have been the main causes for the worsening of the situation in the Middle East.

“Occupation is the highest level of terrorism. Under occupation, Israel kills the Palestinians, commits war crimes and crimes against humanity and violates human rights in the occupied territories,” al-Mikdad asserted.

He reiterated that Syria will cooperate with all international and regional counterterrorism efforts within the framework of international legitimacy, the International Law and the UN Charter. He also affirmed Syria’s incessant keenness to establish the hoped-for just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Hamda Mustafa