Syria Determined to Liberate its Territories from Terrorism and Any Illegal Foreign Military Presence: Al-Jaafari

NEW YORK, (ST)- Syria will continue the fight against terrorism until every inch of the Syrian territory is liberated from terrorists and any illegal foreign military presence, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bashar Al-Jaafari has stressed.

 During a Security Council Session on Monday, dedicated for the UN Chief report on the humanitarian situation in Syria, al-Jaafari said that some western countries continue to hinder and politicize humanitarian work in Syria to serve their own agendas.

He said that some countries member in the Security Council in addition to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) keep talking about the humanitarian situation in Syria, but they avoid talking about the acts of aggression and the crimes committed by the US-led coalition in Syria, the latest of which was perpetrated today with the use of banned white phosphorus in Hajin town in Deir Ezzor countryside.

According to the Syrian news Agency SANA, Al-Jaafari went on to say that the Syrian government believes in the neutral, independent, and non-politicized role of the UN in helping the Syrians affected by terrorism, and this role must respect Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

He called for conducting a transparent, objective and professional discussion on amending the mechanism of submitting reports on the so-called humanitarian situation in Syria in order to help needy Syrians and  for not using these reports as a tool to put pressure and practice political blackmail.

Al-Jaafari said that the report on the “humanitarian situation” in Syria is illogical for those who made the report to maintain their politicized attitude towards Syria and keep overstepping their mandate, given the fact that top Western officials have confessed to their governments’ involvement in funding and sponsoring terrorists in Syria.

The Syrian diplomat said that Syria sent 56 official responses to reports from the OCHA in which it provided clear answers to all questions, but OCHA reports overlooked these notes, meantime reports by eyewitnesses and White Helmets’ members find their way into the OCHA.

He said that the Syrian government approved sending an aid convoy to al-Rukban camp by the UN in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross, but it returned immediately to Damascus due to reports on anticipated terrorist attack by Daesh members against the convoy despite the pledges made by Washington to guarantee its safety which once again set evidence on that the US is the main obstacle which prevents the delivery of aid to the camp.

Al-Jaafari regretted that the report promoted so-called “cross-border aid” that didn’t reach those who need it but rather went to terrorists.

He asserted that in addition to the Syrian army’s achievements, the Syrian government made preparations to facilitate the return of displaced Syrians to their home country, and that Syria will continue fighting terrorism until the entirety of its territory is rid of terrorism and any illegal foreign presence.

Commenting on some countries’ statements on Idleb, al-Jaafari said that Idleb is a Syrian city and the Syrian government is keen on the life of its citizens who have been used as human shields by terrorist groups, noting that Syria has welcomed Sochi agreement signed on the 17th of September and it will always welcome any initiative to end the shedding of Syrian blood and contribute to restoring security and stability to the entire Syrian territory.