Information Minister: We have Clear Evidence on Terrorists Use of Chemical Weapons

DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Minister of Information Omran Zoubi stressed that actual reality on the ground proved that Syria is indivisible and that the Syrian Arab army is fighting armed terrorist groups in some areas in order to prevent the partition of the country .

Interviewed by the Chinese Arab-Times newspaper, the minister explained that the theory of the West military intervention is foiled, thanks to the capability of the Syrian Arab army and international support given by Syria ‘s e friendly countries, including Russia, China and Iran , pointing out that the position of China’s people and leadership has been  evident in this regard.

Syria is fighting against armed terrorist groups from 83 countries

The minister pointed out that Syria is fighting a war against armed terrorist groups which came from 83 countries, including all Arab countries except Djibouti, pointing one estimate acknowledging that about 36 to 48 thousand armed men are in Aleppo and Damascus Countryside, with 80 percent of them are non-Syrians.

Replying to a question if the Gulf countries can carry out military intervention in Syria, Zoubi pointed out that if the Gulf states want to take action against Syria, this will be under a US cover , and that if they embark on such a move, there will be no Gulf States after that.

On the international conference to be held in Geneva on Syria, minister Zoubi pointed that the Geneva conference is designed to achieve a political solution and that the idea of that solution was proposed by the Syrian leadership since the start of the crisis, but the opposition and the armed terrorist groups do not believe in a political solution because they thought the Syrian state will fall, as happened with a number of Arab countries .

The U.S. side still procrastinating political solution

The Minister explained that the Americans joined the track of a political solution via Geneva conference to their realization of the impossibility of the fall of Syria and their inability to achieve victories , pointing out that the U.S. side is still procrastinating a political solution in the hope that the armed elements will be making progress on the ground.

Zoubi explained that the conference which may help in finding a political solution that gets Syria out of the crisis will be convened  without preconditions, with halting arm supplies to  terrorists stressing that “there is no sense for a political solution with continued arming, funding and deployment of armed terrorist groups to Syria.”

He indicated that Syria will take part in the conference with a government delegation and that its participation is pertinent with the compatibility between the Russians and the Americans .

Syria has clear evidences on armed terrorist groups use of chemical weapon

Concerning the mechanism of the work of the International Committee on investigating the use of weapons of mass destruction in certain areas in Syria , the minister underscored that Syria had invited the UN to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Khan al-Asal area in Aleppo and that the committee will investigate in three locations, including Khan al-Asal, according to precise criteria that have been agreed upon between the Committee and the Syrian Foreign Ministry, under the condition that the committee has  to finish its work within two weeks, explaining that the task of the committee is limited to demonstrate the use of chemical weapons in these areas without specifying who used the weapon.

He continued that Syria has clear evidences on armed terrorist groups use of this weapon from the injured , eyewitnesses and soil and air samples, reiterating that the Syrian government has not and will not use this weapon, if any, in any case , on the ground of her values and ethics towards her people , expressing hope that work of the Committee will be neutral, and professional and scientific.

Syrian provides substantial food, housing and medical assistance to the displaced in temporary accommodation centers

As for the status of displaced Syrians , the Minister of Information noted that the Syrian state provided substantial assistance to the displaced in the centers of temporary residence with food, housing and medical care, pointing out that President Bashar al-Assad put an initiative on January 6 , that called on all people to return to their residences and that the government called on all the displaced outside Syria to return back, with guarantees given to the misled among them.

He continued that some of the displaced outside Syria constitute families of the militants and others are of the population of the border areas where the clashes took place, pointing out that number of displaced Syrians inside and outside Syria is exaggerated for political purposes.
He explained that the armed groups embarked on doubled method in dealing with civilians in the areas they entered by expulsion many people from their homes and converting them into military sites and keeping some civilians to be used as human shields .
The minister expressed Syria ‘s appreciation for the Chinese experience which has been able to achieve economic and human development and confidence in the Chinese leadership and foreign policy which is based on respect for the UN principles and peoples’ rights stipulated by and contained in the International Covenant and China support for Syria in the war waged against it, especially China ‘s positions taken at the UN Security Council in this regard.

He pointed out that Syria works to strengthen cooperation relations with China and its people in all fields and that China will have a key role in the reconstruction of Syria , stressing that Syria will depend on friendly countries in this regard, on the ground it will not allow the parties that participated in the destruction of Syria to play any role in her reconstruction.

He pointed out that the government put an ad hoc committees for the country ‘s practical reconstruction and that these committees are estimating  damages in the areas of infrastructure and stolen and destroyed factories and in housing.

Worthy mentioning that China Arab Times newspaper works to deepen Sino-Arab friendship relations , especially China relations with Syria and to convey a true picture of Arab reality.

T. Fateh