Maliki: Syria’s Steadfastness Foiled Designs Perpetrated against the Region

BEIRUT, (ST) _Iraqi Vice President Nuri al-Maliki said that Syria’s steadfastness has foiled perpetrated schemes because Syria is the gate to Iraq and then Iran, pointing out that those who were betting on a military solution are now looking for a political solution to the crisis in Syria.

In an interview with Al-Manar TV yesterday, Maliki added that policies of countries in the region, the big powers and practices of the partners in the political process in Iraq had caused the crisis of terrorism suffered by Iraq and created instability in the region as a prelude to complete the Sykes-Picot Treaty in order to serve the interests of certain countries.

Maliki added that he had warned against the transmission of the crisis from Syria to Iraq for more than two and a half years,  when he told political partners that was due to the presence of Al-Qaeda, al-Nusra Front and  Daesh organization and at the support Arab Gulf countries, known for adopting sectarian approach to serve political calculations, pointing out that Daesh occupation of al-Mousel and large areas of northern Iraq was the result of a conspiracy against the Iraqi army by several internal and external parties.

Maliki stressed that Iraq had refused the imposition of the embargo on Syria, as recommended by Western powers and rejected the war on Syria being a prelude to war on Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and the region.

He explained that the crisis in the region will continue as the major countries do not change their policy, accept the fait accompli and interact with it, especially after Daesh terrorism poses a threat to the whole world.

Maliki emphasized that military achievements will continue and Daash has no future in Iraq, affirming that eliminating terrorism needs to recognize that the battle is one and open on several axes from Iran to Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and this awareness gives us the strength to fight Daesh and the consequent danger of partition and redrawing the map of the area.

T. Fateh