LAHORE, (ST)_Speaker of the People’s Assembly [Parliament] has reiterated that combating transnational terrorism necessitates comprehensive strategy based on UN resolutions.
Mohammad Jihad al-Lahham, who was speaking before the 7th session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly being held in Lahore in Pakistan, warned of the risks of the continuity of ignoring the UN resolutions by the US-led coalition.
“All UN resolutions stress the need for international cooperation to combat terrorism, drain its resources, pursue foreign fighters and prevent them from crossing borders,” he clarified.
Al-Lahham also warned that some countries in the US-led coalition seek to hit the infrastructure in Syria and impose a no-fly zone and so on in order to fight the Syrian state and the Syrian Arab army, which has combatted terrorism for 4 years on behalf of the whole world.
“The real purpose of training and arming the so-called the ‘moderate opposition’ is to fight the Syrian Arab army… Offering support to armed groups in Syria violates the UN charter and UN resolutions” the Speaker said.
“Western intervention and support for extremists in Syria and Iraq under false slogans are behind the spread of the terrorist al-Nusra Front and the ISIS organizations,” he added.
Al-Lahham wondered how long the region’s peoples will remain paying the price for the US policies that contributed to terrorism spread.
“Syria has warned in several international forums that the terrorist organizations pose threat to international peace and security,” he declared.
Political solution requires serious intentions
On the other hand, the Speaker indicated efforts being exerted by Russia to revive the political solution to the crisis in Syria, asserting that Syria has welcomed any sincere effort to stop the shedding of Syrian blood without impingement on national sovereignty and unity.
“The success of political solution requires serious intentions to combat terrorism and the extremist Takfiri thinking that is being supported by regional and western governments,” al-Lahham affirmed.
He highly appreciated Pakistan and the national Pakistani assembly for hosting the conference, hoping that the APA conference’ recommendations will help enhance cooperation between Asian states.
The 7th session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly kicked off yesterday with participation of 49 parliamentary figures from 25 Asian states. It will last until December 3.
Basma Qaddour