FM Statement: Syria presidential election is a sovereign decision

DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Syria confirmed that the decision to hold presidential elections, is but a Syrian sovereign decision that does not allow any foreign interference.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said that as Syria announced opening the door before nomination to the presidential elections, according to the constitution, countries that have contributed to shedding the blood of the Syrian people alleged the illegality of this procedure, noting that these countries who have long pretended to serve the Syrian people, are trying to stand against the will of those people.

In a statement to SANA today, the source asserted that the decision to conduct the presidential elections in Syria is a sovereign Syrian decision that no one is allowed to interfere in,, adding that if these countries, led by Western states claim democracy, freedom and transparency, they should listen to the Syrians and who they will elect through the ballot box, as a manifestation of highest degree of democracy and freedom.

The statement explained that opening the door for running the presidential elections in Syria is embedded in the Syrian constitution, and subjected to the will of the Syrian people who voted for this constitution.

It continued that those who consider  holding the elections on time in accordance with the Constitution will undermine the success of Geneva conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates confirms that the blame for blocking Geneva 2 is the UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi, who has made of himself a biased party not a honest mediator, indicating that countries that send arms to terrorists in Syria support their crimes and refuse to hear the voice of the Syrian people through elections are thereby undermining all political solutions.

“Syria stresses that actual legitimacy will be determined by the ballot box and the Syrians will decide who will lead them in the next stage through multi-party elections for the first time in Syria’s modern history,” the statement concluded.

Earlier on Monday, speaker of the Syrian Parliament Mohammad Jihad al-Lahham announced candidacy for the presidential elections, according to the provisions of the new constitution approved by the Syrian people in a referendum held in 2012.

T. Fateh