‘It Is Time to Acknowledge that International Terrorism, Western Sanctions are Behind Humanitarian Crisis in Syria’: Al-Jaafari
NEW YORK, (ST)- From the very beginning of the terrorist war imposed on the Syrian people, the Syrian government has been keen on delivering humanitarian aid to people who need in cooperation with the UN and its affiliated agencies based on UN General Assembly’s decision No. 182/46, Syria’s permanent Representative to the United Nations Bashar al-Jaafari has underscored, stressing Syria’s complete readiness to cooperate with all efforts aiming honestly to help the Syrian people and alleviate the repercussions of the humanitarian crisis away from interventionist political agendas.
During a security Council session on the humanitarian situation in Syria, al-Jaafari criticized the statement of the new UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock that ignored mentioning the Syrian government’s cooperation with the UN in the humanitarian file “as if OCHA, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, was dealing with ghosts in Syria not with an existing government.”
He said that as the UN Chief’s 43rd report on the humanitarian situation in Syria has been issued it is time to acknowledge that the main cause of the humanitarian crisis in Syria is the emergence and spread of terrorist organizations, especially ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and their affiliated terror groups, in addition to the flow of tens of thousands of foreign-backed terrorists from all over the world into Syria to wreck havoc in the country, take civilians as human shields and promote savage thinking.
Imposing unilateral coercive economic measures against the Syrian people, in violation of international laws, is also among the reasons that worsened the economic, social, health and humanitarian suffering of the Syrians, al-Jaafari added.
On remarks by US representative to the UN, in which she said that her government has dedicated 860 million US dollars as aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon, al-Jaafari said “her government had better spend the money on helping the refugees return to their homeland and rebuild hospitals, schools and roads instead of exerting pressure to keep those Syrians outside their country”.
Regarding Syria’s relation with the United Nations and its affiliated humanitarian agencies, al-Jaafari clarified that the relation should be based on laws, morals and partnership through respecting the principles of humanitarian work, through not politicizing the humanitarian file to put pressure on the Syrian government and through cooperation on delivering aid to those who need.
The relation should also be realistic based on acknowledging that the main reason behind the suffering of the Syrian people is the international terrorism, the western economic sanctions imposed on the Syrian people, al-Jaafari said, adding that the relation must also acknowledge that the illegal operations carried out by the so-called international coalition led by the United States have increased the suffering of the Syrians by killing thousands of civilians and destroying civil infrastructure.
Al-Jaafari reaffirmed that the policy of the Syrian state has been based on two key principles; fighting terrorism and continuously working to find a political solution that stops bloodshed and restores stability in the country, in addition to enhancing national reconciliation which has proved to be a success and has led to the return of thousands of displaced people and refugees to their original areas.
Concerning Astana and Geneva meetings on Syria, al-Jaafari confirmed the Syrian government’s commitment to Astana and Geneva political tracks to solve the crisis, noting that Syria assesses positively the Astana process and its results which specified de-escalation zones to help enhance the cessation of hostilities and separate the terrorist groups like ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and their affiliated groups from other armed groups that agreed to join Astana process.
In the same context, al-Jaafari said, the Syrian government also renews its commitment to Geneva process, noting that the delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic participated in all the rounds of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva aiming to achieve progress.
He reiterated that the Syrian government will relentlessly continue fighting international terrorism on the entire Syrian territory and it renews its firm stance that the solution of the crisis in Syria is a political one based on intra-Syrian dialogue led by Syria away from foreign interference or preconditions.
Al-Jaafari pointed out that the American-European policies towards Syria violate all international resolutions and that the American government must know that Syria is a sovereign country.
He called for lifting the economic sanctions on Syria so as the Syrian refugees can return to their country, noting that political solution must be based on assisting the Syrian government not working against it by using the humanitarian file to pressure Syria.
Hamda Mustafa