De Mistura Tries to Turn Attention Away from Terrorists, Says al-Miqdad
DAMASCUS COUNTRYSIDE,(ST)- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates declared Tuesday that the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria has tried to turn counterterrorism basket into trust-building basket during intra-Syrian talks held in Geneva.
Faisal al-Miqdad told students at the Ba’ath Arab Socialist Party’s School in al-Tal area outside Damascus that Staffan de Mistura tries to empty counterterrorism basket and to turn it into trust-building basket in order to turn the attention away from terrorists.
“There is no accurate description for what is going on in Syria in the United Nations, and we will go ahead with talks,” he added, stressing that the Syrian leadership will never allow suspected projects to be completed.
As for repeated accusations to the Syrian government of using chemical weapons, al-Miqdad said: “We do not have chemical weapons and we completed the chemical weapons removal program. Syria will press ahead with denying these accusations.”
He condemned the European Unions’ decision to impose sanctions on some Syrian researchers and scientists, who are developing their country’s capabilities for peaceful purposes.
“The real goals of the war waged by Syria’s enemy are the achievements realized at local and regional levels,” the official said, indicating that those who planned for the war and financed it were betting on the fall of Syria in few weeks, but they were disappointed because of the steadfastness and sacrifices of the Syrian army and people and because of the support of Syria’s friends, especially Russia and Iran and Hezbollah.
Some Arab regimes consider Israel as ‘elder brother’
“The best relations between Arab countries do not live up to the level of relations between some Arab countries and the Zionist entity [Israel], which is being deemed by some regimes as the elder brother without being ashamed of saying that,” al-Miqdad said.
He made it clear that the attempts made by some Arab countries to isolate Syria were based on western directives. “Many decisions, issued by the Arab League and the Islamic Cooperation Organization, were distributed in English language as they were written in America or Israel or Britain.”
“Every war has a beginning and an end and we are determined to make the end of this war in our interest and in the interest of our nation in order not to be a slave to Israel in this region and in order to continue the struggle to restore the Arab-Palestinian rights,” al-Miqdad concluded.
Basma Qaddour