Jaafari: If War Declared on Syria , it will Defend Itself

NEWYORK,(ST)_ Syria ‘s  Permanent Representative to the UN Dr. Bashar Jaafari stressed  that Syria  is against weapons of mass destruction and is not intended to  declare war on any one , but if war declared against it , it will defend  itself , calling for a political solution under a Syrian leadership and to support efforts to hold an international conference on Syria, ” Geneva 2″.

Jaafari said in a telephone call with the  Syrian television yesterday that Syria as a  founding state  in the UN , that  participated in the drafting of  San Francisco Charter , is absolutely committed to the  International Charter and law and to prevent the war and is not intended  to go to war with the US or any other country, its  diplomacy is realistic , and “we know our limits ,  as we are against weapons of mass destruction in all its forms “.

No  international law authorizes Washington or President Obama to declare war against Syria

Jaafari explained what the international law states  on the right to self-defense , noting that  Syria did not declare war on any one , therefore , there is no international law that authorizes Washington or President Obama to declare war on a small country such as Syria , under the UN Charter , or the International Criminal Court or any other international law .

He considered  that the US  administration in particular, is now  part of the problem in Syria not part of the solution because it encourages arming the armed groups ,sponsors the secret intelligence in northern Jordan and southern Turkey , on the Syrian border ,  and also sponsors the smuggling of arms from Lebanon to Syria.

Jaafari  indicated to what Obama said in his press conference yesterday that he was elected by the American people to stop the war and the Iraqi war should be the last war . A statement  Obama made during his famous speech  in Cairo , addressing  the Arab and Islamic worlds when he said that his reign would  not witness another war in the Middle East, but he is  now drawn by the  Israelis and Saudis, and Turkey and the aggressive circles in the US to think of launching an aggression against Syria.

“Israel” Pushes  the US to attack  Syria

Jaafari  indicated  that  “Israel” is pushing the US to launch an  aggression against Syria , pointing out that  American newspapers quoted the Israeli newspaper “Haaretz” that quoted in turn, an adviser in the administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush as saying that ” Israel may be behind the use of chemicals in the outskirts of Damascus. “

Jaafari pointed out that the Saudi role is no more hidden  , pointing out that the Saudi foreign minister said several times that he is arming  terrorist groups in Syria and recently sent them 400 tons of arms across the Syrian – Turkish border . 

Syria against weapons of mass destruction

Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN  explained  that Syria   stands against weapons of mass destruction and  that in 2003 it presented the UN  Security Council an initiative to create a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, not only chemical or biological , adding that the initiative was  opposed by  U.S. delegation , who had threatened to veto against the draft resolution wondering , why .?  and the answer  is because the US historically wants to save Israel’s nuclear weapons and prevent any international pressure to give up this weapon , which is the most dangerous of weapons of mass destruction .

At one stage , Jaafari continued , we  were partners in the fight against terrorism and saved the lives of thousands of American citizens and this fact was recognized by senior  successive officials in the American administrations  , adding that Syria still insists on promoting the American side to be a full partner with the Russian side in preparation for the International Conference on Syria .

“We are with questioning who used  chemical weapons and  this can be  through the internationally agreed  upon mechanisms including the UN security council  and the discussions in the Council , ” Jaafari said pointing out that Syria has always been against the use of chemical weapons , whether in Vietnam , Algeria or Libya.

Jaafari  noted that the Europeans were the first to use chemical weapons in World War I against each other in 1915 in Belgium , by the Germans against the British army , which was mostly at the time Indians and then used by the French and Germans against each other in  the famous trench warfare in  First World War , Italy used chemical weapons in Libya  and  Ethiopia, France conducted a nuclear explosion in the Algerian desert with the participation of Israeli  against Algerians  who were alive  in order to try on them , the results of nuclear explosions,  while  America used nuclear weapons in Japan and the biological weapons  in Vietnam ,adding that ” therefore those who want  to give lessons to others should adhere  to preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction” .

Jaafari  indicated conclusive evidences submitted  by several  States and  capitals , including Damascus, in addition to a large number of journalists proving  that  the US claim is not complying with the reality of the situation because it has only political justifications , by the understanding of fighting Iran and Hezbollah in Syria and  that they want to undermine  existing regional alliances and give  Israel the upper hand in the region to create a new Middle East.

Jaafari  indicated  to what was published by the Guardian newspaper and  the Los Angeles Times yesterday about inconsistencies in the number of  the Syrian victims from the use of chemicals as stated on August 21  as the  US figures uttered by John Kerry pointed out that the number of victims was 1429 , while British sources said they were 350 , and  the  French sources they  were 281 only.

Armed groups used chemical weapons in Khan al-Asal  and other places in Syria

 Jaafari said  that the Russian delegation at the  UN Security Council submitted a 80- page authentic report to  members of the UN Security Council,  two months ago in which it  proved that the armed groups supported, funded  and armed  from abroad had  used chemical weapons in Khan al-Asal  and other places in Syria, recalling that Syria had  asked the UN to investigate  what happened in Khan al-Asal of  the use of chemicals .

Jaafari  wondered  that ” if the High Representative for Disarmament at the United Nations Ms. Angela Kane told me personally that a large number of these allegations are  not credible and therefore ruled out by  Secretary-General from  investigation ,  then , what is the case with  analysts and observers  who are  entirely unfamiliar with  the validity of what is taking place” .

Jaafari  continued that , the UN Secretary -General himself , who  showed several negative attitudes in the past concerning  the crisis in Syria now stands against the move outside the framework of the UN Security Council , pointing out that Ban Ki-moon said in St. Petersburg that he is against the use of force outside the framework of the  UN Security Council and that the solution is political  and that going  to the International Conference on Syria is an ideal framework and therefore if  Ban Ki-moon says these words everyone must understand that something has changed .

He noted an important indicator happening now in the deliberations of the US  Congress and the Senate , adding ” true that the Foreign Relations Committee, has authorized  President Barack Obama’s use of force to carry out aggression against Syria, but that was by ten with the decision  and  seven against  it , with one  abstainer , which means that the voting  was  almost by 50 to 50 percent .

He continued that  even the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate, is  divided against itself , which  is a very important indicator and so far the  U.S. administration in the deliberations of the Congress , got only 17 votes out of hundreds of members of the Council means the existence of a heated debate inside.

”  Everyone knows that whatever  the aggression , it is aimed at the Syrian people , and I appeal to our people whatever their attitude and their assessment of the events  to  be aware that standing  in the gray area is unacceptable .The  Syrian people should know and realize that aggression is targeting all its  members and  the American missiles will not distinguish between  one person and another . They will attack  all we have built and our capital common , our homeland and this fact  should be clear in everyone’s minds . Our people will pay the price and every wrong  analysis to  what is happening now will not be  in favor of  any one. ” Jaafari concluded . 

T. Fateh