Attempts at foreign interference in Syria’s affairs are a flagrant violation of international law and an unacceptable assault on its sovereignty and independence

Yesterday, during a joint press conference with Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani in Manama, Syria renewed its commitment to the unity of its territory and people and its categorical rejection of any foreign interference seeking to fragment or disintegrate it.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates on April 30, it was emphasized that “the Syrian Arab Republic categorically rejects all forms of foreign interference in its internal affairs and considers the recent calls made by outlaw groups that participated in acts of violence on Syrian territory, demanding so-called international protection, to be illegitimate and completely unacceptable.”

Today, the repeated Israeli attacks on Syria, the desperate attempts to interfere in its affairs, the manipulation of divisions, and the attempts to sow discord among its people, are a reminder of the importance of returning to the core concept of international law, which categorically prohibits all forms of foreign interference and affirms respect for the sovereignty and unity of states.

Since the founding of the United Nations, the principle of the sovereignty and independence of states has been emphasized, and interference in their internal affairs is prohibited and rejected, given the disastrous repercussions and consequences it entails for their stability, security, and the lives of their people. We have seen this throughout history in numerous examples and experiences that have cost tens of millions of people around the world.

According to Article (M2/F7) of the UN Charter, “Nothing in the present Charter shall authorize an international organization to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state, while emphasizing the sovereign equality of all Members and the abstention of states in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or sovereign independence of other states.”

The UN General Assembly has also issued a number of resolutions—since its inception—urging states not to interfere in the internal affairs of other states, considering intervention as an act based on no legitimacy and deserving of condemnation. It has also urged states not to interfere or exercise any form of pressure or coercion on other states.

Syria has suffered greatly over the past decades from foreign interference. The Israeli entity occupied the Golan Heights, displaced its people, and destroyed their villages, instead building settlements for its immigrants from around the world. Meanwhile, the former regime sought to attract Iranian and Russian foreign intervention to support it in its confrontation with the Syrian people. This has led to hundreds of thousands of casualties, widespread destruction, and the displacement of millions of Syrians.

All this data indicates the need to be aware of the danger of foreign interference in our country’s affairs., to work to expose its methods and tools, and to stand up to it, based on international law and the Charter of the United Nations. This must be done by relying on the awareness of our people and their rejection of attempts to sow discord and division, and by adhering to their unity, coexistence, and independent decision-making.

#syria_times