Al-Jaafari: “Riyadh Opposition” Group’s Threats Embodied in Terrorist Attacks against Civilians in Syrian Areas

GENEVA, (ST)- Head of the Syrian Arab Republic’s delegation to the Intra-Syrian dialogue Bashar Al-Jaafari has stressed that the threats made by some members of the “Riyadh opposition” group before leaving Geneva were embodied in terrorist attacks against civilians in Aleppo and in al-Sayeda Zeinab neighborhood in Damascus countryside.

 Talking to journalists on Monday following a second round of talks held today between the Syrian Republic’s delegation and the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, al-Jaafai said that “”the main aim of the group’s threatening remarks was to undermine the intra-Syrian dialogue and bring foreign interference in this dialogue in implementation of  the instructions of the group’s masters.”

 “The message sent by the “Riyadh opposition” group to their agents in Syria before leaving Geneva was clear; that is to beak the cessation of hostilities agreement, attack the Syrian Arab Army and shell the Syrian cities,” al-Jaaafri said.

He stressed that some members of this Saudi-backed group were terrorists and their participation in the talks was opposed by the Syrian government delegation and by many countries which support Geneva dialogue and political solution in Syria.

He added “it is not surprising to know that the escalation in Aleppo was done by the Turkish intelligence-backed “Ahrar al-Sham” terrorist group and the escalation in Damascus Countryside was carried out by the Saudi intelligence-backed “Jeish al-Islam” terrorists.”

Al-Jaafari went on to say that the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates sent two  identical letters to the UN chief and the Security Council president urging them to condemn the incessant terrorist attacks against residential areas in Damascus and Aleppo, to take immediate measures against the countries which sponsor and support the terrorism which led to scores of innocent civilian deaths and to help the Syrian government in the fight against terrorists.

“Syria is now paying the price of the failure of Saudi Arabia and Jordan in implementing the tasks they were asked to do in Vienne meeting,” al-Jaafari said, noting that Saudi Arabia was asked in Vienna meeting to prepare a list of oppositions groups names, while Jordan was tasked with preparing a list of terrorist groups names, but both failed to accomplish their missions.   

On today’s talks with Mistura, al-Jaafari said “we presented our amendments to the special envoy’s 12-point paper and considered these amendments as an integral part of the paper . We had rich exchange of ideas with de Mistura and agreed to meet again tomorrow at 12 a.m.”

Hamda Mustafa