Miqdad: Syria is committed to its obligations under Forces Disengagement Convention of 1974

DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Dr Faisal Miqdad stressed during a meeting yesterday with Herve Ladsous UN Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, who is on a visit to Syria to monitor the status of the UN disengagement Observer Force in the Golan UNDOF, aspects of cooperation between the Syrian government and the United Nations.

Al-Miqdad stressed the Syrian government’s commitment to its obligations under the Convention on the disengagement of forces of 1974 and continue to provide all necessary facilities enabling UNDOF to carry out its mandate as required and the great keenness to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and premises.

He expressed the Syrian government satisfaction with the recent UN Secretary General report concerning UNDOF, which clearly pointed to the direct Israeli relations with the armed groups and to the most serious violation of the disengagement agreement since 1974, committed by Israel, in its attacks against the Syrian territories on March 18 and 19, 2014.

He called on the Security Council to take immediate action against Israel and countries supporting terrorists, pointing out that such violations do not only constitute a flagrant violation of the Disengagement forces agreement, but also jeopardize the safety and security of the UN personnel.

He also called on the UN to help Syria in confronting terrorism by forcing countries that are arming, funding, training and harboring terrorist groups to stop these practices, in implementation of the UN resolutions, including UN Security Council resolutions on counter-terrorism.

For his part, Ladsous praised the constructive cooperation undertaken by the Syrian Government, both with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force UNDOF or with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, noting that the UN will continue to work and cooperate with the Syrian government to carry out its mandate, expressing hope that security and stability will return to Syria.

T. Fateh