Al-Zou’bi: defeat of terrorist groups ‘game-changing’ factor

DAMASCUS,(ST)_Information Minister underscored that the defeat of armed terrorist groups on the ground is behind the current change at political arena which clearly manifested in statements followed the US-Russian meeting in Moscow.

Omran al-Zou’bi was speaking on Friday as he met the visiting world peace delegation headed by Mairead Maguire.

The minister, as SANA reported, elaborated on what is going on in Syria, the role of some regional and international states in the conspiracy, and losses of media sector in the crisis so far.

‘Qatari entity ‘

Al-Zou’bi told the delegation: “the events in Syria have proved that al-Qaeda organization and al-Nusra Front are intelligence tools for Qatar and Saudi Arabia,” noting that Qatar is the “only entity” which officially opens offices for Talban movement, Nigerian Boko Haram organization, and the ‘Syrian opposition coalition’  which shelters al-Qaeda and al-Nusra Front.

This requires, he added, holding Qatar accountable before the UNSC as it breaches the UN resolution No.1373 which bans sheltering terrorists.

Terrorists’ supporters

The minister, in addition, clarified that the Turkish government shelters terrorists while foreign ministers of France and Britain supply terrorists, who destroy churches and mosques and steal antiques, with arms.

“Syria is the last secular state in the region,” al-Zou’bi said.

 He added: “The Syrian Arab army fights thousands of non-Syrian terrorists and targets their hideouts after defining them. If the Syrian state wanted to eliminate the terrorists from the very beginning of the events, it would do that. But the cost would be hundreds of civilians”.

Media sector losses ‘SP 2.5bln‘

Talking about national mass media, the minister said that media war, Syria has been facing, is based on preventing the country from the modern technology necessary to broadcast facts about what is really going on in Syria.

“Losses of media sector reached up to SP 2.5bln due to terrorist attacks on media centers. Besides, the terrorists abducted and assassinated several reporters,” al-Zou’bi said.

The world peace delegation, who concluded its visit to Syria today, included 16 activists and reporters from Australia, the US, Canada, Brazil and Lebanon and members of Syrian Popular Committee for National Reconciliation.

Basma Qaddour