Al-Maollem at UNGA 73rd Session: “Our Battle against Terrorism is Nearing Its End”
New York, (ST)- The Syrians have kept steadfast in the face of terrorism and its supporters because they have conviction that they are fighting to defend their existence, history and future and that they will triumph, al-Moallem said on Saturday in the statement of the Syrian Arab Republic at the UN General Assembly’s 73rd session in New York .
“We are determined to continue this sacred battle until the entire Syrian territories are liberated from terrorism. We announce to the world that after more than seven years of dirty war on our country, the situation on ground has become safer and more stable and that our battle against terrorism is nearing its end, al-Moallem stressed.
He went on to say that the Syrians are determined to always be hand in hand as to eliminate the impacts of the terrorist war and reconstruct their country themselves and by Syrian expertise and cadres.
He made it clear that the return of the displaced Syrians is a priority to the Syrian state, adding that doors are open for all the Syrians abroad to voluntarily and safely return home.
The minister pledged every effort, with the assistance of Russia, to help the displaced Syrians return, citing the formation of a special coordination body to facilitate their return and help them build normal lives again.
Al-Moallem blamed Western states for attempts to obstruct the return of the displaced Syrians by discouraging them under lame pretexts, politicizing this humanitarian file and using it as a card to advance political agendas, which he considered a continuation of the role they have played since the beginning of the crisis in Syria.
Al-Moallem said Syria welcomes the initiatives of countries that have not been involved in the aggression against it and have embraced a firm and clear approach against terrorism during the reconstruction stage, with friendly countries which have stood by Syria given the advantage in the reconstruction programs. The countries who are predicating their participation in the rebuilding process on preconditions and restrictions are “not welcomed and not invited in the first place,” he added.
He added that Syria is keen on progress in the political process in parallel with the progress in fighting terrorism and in the files of reconstruction and return of displaced Syrians, noting Syria’s insistence on preserving national principles, mainly the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Syrian state and stressing that the Syrian people has the exclusive right to decide their future away from any foreign interference.
Al-Moallem asserted that Syria has got deeply and openly engaged in Geneva and Astana processes on Syria and in the intra-Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, but other parties have tried to hinder progress in these processes.
The use of chemical weapons is a condemned and completely rejected act
Al-Moallem clarified that Syria’s battle against terrorism is a battle between the culture of destruction, extremism and death on the one hand and the culture of building, tolerance and life on the other. He called for fighting terrorism and extremist thinking, for draying up its financial resources and for implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions, mainly No. 2253.
He affirmed that the use of chemical weapons is condemned and completely rejected under any circumstances and in any place and at any time, therefore, Syria has got rid of its entire stockpile of chemical weapons and implemented all its commitments towards the Organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons (OPCW).
He made it clear that there are pre-prepared accusations and scenarios for aggression on Syria similar to the tripartite aggression launched by the United States, France and Britain against the Syrian state last April, under the pretext that the Syrian army has used chemical weapons, even before any investigation or having evidence.
He said that Syria has repeatedly warned of terrorist organizations obtaining chemical weapons and cited incidents when they used chemical weapons to frame the Syrian government, which went unheeded.
US, French and Turkish troops are occupying forces
Al-Moallem affirmed that any foreign presence on the Syrian soil without the consent of the Syrian government is deemed illegal and a violation of the international law and the UN Charter which obstructs the mission to eradicate terrorism and threatens regional peace and security, adding that Syria considers the US, French and Turkish troops as “occupying forces” and will be treated accordingly.
The Syrian top diplomat also said that Syria is calling on the international community to immediately move as to put an end to the Israeli aggressive and provocative practices in the occupied Syrian Golan and occupied Palestine and to force Israel to implement relevant UN resolutions, stressing Syria’s determination to restore the occupied Golan to the June 4th 1967 line.
Al-Moallem meets Guterres, Zarif
Earlier in the day, al-Moallem held meetings with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the UNGA’s 73rd session.
According to SANA, talks with Guterres focused on the latest political and field developments in Syria, particularly the latest agreement on Idleb, in addition to the efforts exerted to form a committee on discussing the Constitution.
Guterres expressed hope for the return of security and stability to Syria and its regaining position as a main basis in the Arab world and region, stressing UN readiness to contribute to the exerted efforts for forming a committee on discussing the Constitution and working on providing humanitarian aid.
For his part, al-Moallem said that the UN role is a facilitator in the political process which must be under the Syrian leadership and by the Syrian people only without any foreign interference.
Al-Moallem’s meeting with Zarif dealt with the latest meetings of Guarantor States of Astana process, the implementation of Sochi Agreement on Idleb and the committee on discussing the Constitution.
The two sides agreed on continuous consultation, cooperation and coordination in a way that serves the interests of the two countries and peoples.
Hamda Mustafa