Al-Jaafari: Statement of Terrorist Groups Delegation Has Nothing to Do with Core Issue of Astana Meeting

ASTANA, (ST)- Head of the Syrian delegation to the Astana meeting  has stressed that the statement of the head of the terrorist groups’ delegation has nothing to do with diplomatic manners and the core issue of Astana meeting.

In a press conference on Monday, al-Jaafari said that Astana meeting is an important event in preparation for political settlement on the crisis in Syria .

He pointed out that the delegation of the terrorist groups defended the war crimes committed by Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization in Ein Fijeh where they poisoned and mined the water spring, he added.

The operation of the Syrian army in Wadi Barada is aimed against terrorists attempting to deprive Damascus of water and cannot be considered as a violation of the cessation of hostilities, Jaafari said.

“The operation against those who try to contaminate sources of water for 7 mln people cannot be called a violation of the cessation of hostilities,” he added.

 “The lack of professionalism of the terrorist groups delegation and their being exploited by their masters aim at foiling Astana talks ad undermining efforts that seek helping the Syrian people surpass their ordeal, al-Jaafari said.

He also pointed out to what is happening in Kefraya and al-Fouaa, the two towns that have been besieged for over three years and are shelled on daily basis by terrorist groups, some of which have representatives attending the Astana meeting, stressing that most of those people are amateurs in political work and can’t rise to their responsibilities, and their rhetoric is inflammatory, unrealistic, and unrelated to the goals of the Astana meeting; rather they are working to derail the meeting as instructed by those who control them.

He went on to say that the terrorist groups’ delegation doesn’t work according to the agreements reached by countries sponsoring the meeting.

“We won’t be provoked and we won’t be part of any scenario that aims at foiling the Astana meeting,” al-Jaafari affirmed, pointing out that the delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic didn’t participate in preparations or arrangements for the meeting.

“We came to discuss an agenda we were briefed on and we agreed on,” he clarified.

He also stressed that Turkey is the guarantor of the armed terrorist groups because it acts as one of their operators.

Hamda Mustafa