Al-Mikdad: Earthquake disaster didn’t touch the conscience of “humanitarian” countries 

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Al-Mikdad has stressed that the earthquake disaster in Syria did not touch the conscience of some countries claiming that they are humanitarian, as these countries continue with their policy of politicization and double standards and they have turned a blind eye to the cries of the victims the earthquake in the light of sharp shortage of rescue and relief equipment and materials caused by the coercive measures imposed by these countries on Syria. He has affirmed that this behavior confirms that these coercive measures are nothing but a tool of punishment.

In a video speech to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Al-Mikdad asserted the need to preserve the role and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council in accordance with what was stipulated in the decision to establish it. He noted that Syria looks forward to working in the field of human rights on the basis of the UIN Charter principles and respect for national sovereignty.

The minister said that Syria renews its rejection of the practices of some countries in the Council that seek to impose politicized decisions and mechanisms that constitute a blatant interference in the internal affairs of independent states, a violation of the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, and an exploitation of human rights.

Al-Mikdad added: The draft resolution entitled “The situation of human rights in Syria” and its outputs represent an example of the subordination of international human rights mechanisms to malicious political agendas, as the sponsors of the draft resolution insist on using it as a means to broadcast their allegations about Syria.

“Our national experience prompts us to emphasize the importance of the Council’s follow-up on the effects of terrorism on human rights through a comprehensive approach based on guaranteeing the rights of victims of terrorism,” he pointed out.

Al-Mikdad indicated that Syria has taken what is necessary to protect its citizens from the violations committed by terrorist groups, restored security and stability to the areas it liberated and strengthened means of support and protection to create a suitable environment for the return of the displaced and the refugees.

The earthquake catastrophe deepened the harsh conditions that Syria has been going through for 12 years, and to confront this, an emergency response plan was launched at the national level to deal with the repercussions of the disaster and to appeal to countries and international organizations to support the stricken areas, Al-Mikdad said.

He stressed that the devastation caused by the earthquake did not touch the conscience of the governments of countries claiming that they are humanitarian, as they continued with their politicization and double standards and with their sanctions on the Syrian people despite the sharp shortage of rescue and relief equipment and materials necessary to respond to the earthquake disaster.

Al-Mikdad pointed out that the illegal blockade caused enormous human suffering and limited the enjoyment of the basic human rights of the Syrian people. The coercive measures impeded the provision of the requirements of humanitarian operations and emergency response, which confirms that they are no less dangerous than the earthquake.

Minister Al-Mikdad clarified: Several countries promote biased politicized reports and obscured the report prepared by the UN Special Rapporteur on the negative effects of coercive measures following her visit to Syria last October, and confirmed that they amount to crimes against humanity.

Minister Al-Mikdad added: Syria stresses its inalienable right to fully restore the occupied Golan and its rejection of any measures taken by the Israeli occupation to perpetuate its occupation.

He highlighted Syria’s condemnation of the gross violations of human rights that the occupation forces and settler gangs continue to commit in the occupied Syrian Golan and the occupied Palestinian territories. He renewed Syria’s support for the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state.

Inas Abdulkareem