Al-Moallem: Syria Agrees in Principle to Take Part in Geneva International Conference

BAGHDAD, (ST) – Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem announced on Sunday that he informed the Iraqi Premier Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshyar  Zebari about Syria’s decision in principle to participate with an official delegation in the international conference scheduled to be held in Geneva in June.

Al-Moallem , who is on a visit to Baghdad, was speaking today during a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Zebari, following his talks with Iraqi senior officials.

Al-Moallem said he discussed with al-Maliki and Zebari ways of enhancing the Syrian-Iraqi ties and coordination as regards international developments.    

“Since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, we have believed in dialogue among the Syrian parties as the solution to this crisis,” al-Moallem said, stressing that  no power in the world can decide Syria’s future on behalf of the Syrian people who alone have the right to do that,” al-Moallem said.

He pointed out that the forthcoming international conference on Syria is an opportunity to attain a settlement to the crisis in the country.

For his part, Iraq’s Zebari said the crisis in Syria is no longer purely Syrian, as all Syria’s neighboring states have begun to be affected by the crisis repercussions on the entire region’s security and safety.

He added that it is necessary to adopt political solutions, that are agreed upon by all the Syrian sides without any kind of dictates imposed on the Syrian people to choose the kind of  political leadership which represents them.

H. Mustafa