Al-Zou’bi: Terrorist Groups Act as US Political, Military Arm in the Region
MOSCOW, (ST) – The Armed terrorist groups in Syria have become a US political and military arm as they keep seeking to undermine Syria via the Iraqi and Lebanese gates or by using direct tools like Israel, stressed Information Minister Omran al-Zou’bi.
Al-Zou’bi, who was speaking during his meeting on Monday with the leadership and activists of the Russian-Syrian Friendship Society in Moscow, said that successive US administrations realize well that Syria is not and will not be the ground for implementing the U.S policies.
Concerning the Arab League’s (AL) decision to grant Syria’s AL seat to the “opposition”, the minister said it contradicts AL charter, adding that any UN resolution will also be illegal even if it cancelled Syria’s membership in the international organization because such resolution can’t give up Syria’s recognition, as the United Nations is only an organization tasked with coordinating international efforts to preserve peace and stability in the world and doesn’t have the right to interfere in the internal issues and decisions of countries.
Minister al-Zou’bi affirmed that the ongoing events in Syria threaten the Syrian-Russian relations so “we have to defend our common interests and soon when the crisis is over we will work to rebuild and rehabilitate Syria’s all sectors.”
“Syria’s real partner in all this will be Russia, this is how of the Syrian people and leadership think,” said al-Zou’bi.
He pointed out that though tools of the conflict in the world have been changed, the American goals haven’t. Moscow and Damascus continue to be a US target not because of their distinguished historical relations, but because they represent an exceptional case in terms of political work and relations between the peoples of the two countries.
For his part, the Syrian Ambassador in Moscow Riad Haddad condemned the political and diplomatic war waged against Syria and blamed Qatar for its contributing to killing innocent Syrians.
Haddad said the AL granted Syria’s AL seat to the so-called “Syrian opposition” and they want to repeat this act at the Islamic Cooperation Organization and later at the United Nations.
He highly appreciated the role played by Russia, China and the BRICS states in supporting Syria and in defending international law and the principles of right and justice.
President of the Russian-Syrian Friendship Society also stressed that all the Russian people and their leadership are unified on supporting Syria in its battle against the global war.
In the same context, Minister al-Zou’bi made a lecture at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry in which he highlighted the deeply-rooted ties between Syria and Russia.
War on Syria targets coexistence among the Syrians
Al-Zou’bi said Syria is a secular state and it has been a target for extremism. The country is confronting mainstream Arab and Western media which don’t know the reality of events on ground in Syria.
“What is going on in Syria is a war between ignorant takfiri thinking fighting under the name of Islam and an Islamic-Christian moderation which has been coexisting in Syria for thousands of years,” the minister said.
“Syria is now paying the price for this secularism and religious diversity,” he added, pointing out that Syria is facing foreign-backed terrorists and mercenaries coming from 29 countries, causing tragic events and killing innocent citizens.
He pointed out that Syria has some documents proving that American officers are training and providing all kinds of assistance to terrorists and mercenaries of al-Qaeda-affiliated groups.
Unprecedented misleading campaign
The minster also stressed that Syria is confronting matchless misleading campaign, but despite all pain and sadness, the Syrian Arab Army, supported by the people and peace-loving parties, will protect the Syrian land and defend the state sovereignty.
The crisis in Syria will come to an end thanks to the awareness of the Syrian people and the support of the Russian people and leadership, he said.
Answering some questions, al-Zou’bi said the “opposition” has no political program, they only call for “overthrowing the regime”. “This not a political program it is a political agenda which aims at undermining the Syrian state,” he added, pointing out that “we are really in need for the Russian support.”
For his part, Chief of the Russian Academy Yevgeni Baglov stressed the support of the Russian people and leadership to Syria’s steadfastness to keep its stability, independence and sovereignty.
Interviewed by the Russian Itar Tass news agency, Minister al-Zou’bi affirmed that the Syrian government has been the first to call for internal political dialogue since May, 2011. However, dialogue should be among the Syrians alone away from any terrorist groups or the countries which seek interference in Syria’s affairs.
Political Program Hindered by U.S, Saudi Arabia and Qatar
Al-Zou’bi pointed out that the political program proposed by President Bashar Al-Assad on January 6th, 2013, is an integrated political, social, economic and humanitarian plan to solve the crisis in Syria, but the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey are hindering its implementation and blocking launching dialogue.
Some EU states involved in Syria events
On the possibility that EU countries would get oil from some regions in northern Syria outside the Syrian government framework, The minister affirmed that major European countries, including France and Britain are involved in Syria events and that their intelligence systems are working in the country since the beginning of the events, so any EU decisions or acts are not surprising, but I think they will not be able to do that.”
H. Mustafa