Millions of Syrians in Idleb want their government to rid them of terrorism: al-Jaafari
NUR-SULTAN, (ST)- Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Bashar al-Jaafari has stressed that millions of Syrians in Idleb want their government to rid them of terrorism, warning against the increase of the number of terrorists in Idleb mainly foreign ones.
In a press conference on Friday after the conclusion of the 13th round of Astana talks on crisis in Syria, al-Jaafari criticized the Turkish regime for not complying with its obligations under the final statements of the previous rounds of Astana talks in the Kazakh capital as well as the the Sochi agreement. He pointed out that Syria won’t wait indefinitely until Ankara complied with its obligations.
He said that a year after the Sochi agreement on Idleb, the Turkish regime still hasn’t implemented its obligations pursuant to this agreement which calls for the retreat of the terrorist organizations from the de-escalation zone by 20 km and for the removal of all heavy and medium artillery.
Al-Jaafari condemned the Turkish regime’s violations of the Astana agreements, noting Turkey’s heavy military presence in Syria. He clarified that Turkey continues to occupy parts of the Syrian territory and has deployed 10655 military personnel inside Syria .There are 166 Turkish tanks on Syrian soil and 278 armored vehicles not to mention rocket launchers, mortar cannons, anti-tank missiles and the machinegun-equipped cars.
Turkish-backed terrorists loot antiquities and steal olives from Idleb
He affirmed that the Turkish-backed terrorists have looted antiquities from the city of Afrin and transferred them to Turkey and they have stolen the Syrian olives from Idleb and sold them in international markets. He reaffirmed that Syria considers the Turkish occupation as an aggression against which the Syrian government has the right to adopt all procedures necessary to defend its sovereignty and end this occupation.
“The solution of the crisis in Syria should be based on international resolution No. 2254 which stresses commitment to Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” al-Jaafari said, pointing out that despite the fact that the United States, Britain and France have voted in favor of this resolution they violated it and sent troops to Syria.
The senior Syrian diplomat also said that Washington and the so-called US-led coalition’s claims about eliminating Daesh are incorrect, because what they actually did is the complete destruction of Raqqa under the pretext of fighting Daesh.
Those who want to fight terrorism should coordinate with the Syrian government
Al-Jaafari concluded by stressing that those who want to fight terrorism should coordinate with the Syrian government which welcomes all positive initiatives in this regard.
He made it clear that counterterrorism must not be used as a pretext to undermine Syria’s sovereignty, reiterating that doors are widely opened for dialogue, but Syria rejects any separatist agenda by any party whatever the pretext is, because the unity of the Syrian people and coordination with the Syrian government are the basis for fighting terrorism.
Hamda Mustafa