Muallim: Syria ‘s Future is Decided by the Syrians

DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid al-Muallim stressed  that Syria’s future is in the hands of the Syrian people , who have the  exclusive authority , adding that all  issues to be agreed at the International Conference to be held on Syria will be submitted to a referendum and will be implemented upon approval.

In  an interview with al-Mayadeen TV on Wednesday, Maullim  said that Syria ‘s  preliminary approval to participate in the international conference is based on the  belief that a solution to the crisis  is political and because the conference itself represents a real opportunity to find a solution.

He continued  the final position concerning the  Syrian delegation to the conference has not yet determined because ” we are waiting to stand on the details unfinished   during the visit of Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad to Moscow and wait for details of the meeting of  foreign ministers Sergei Lavrov and U.S. John Kerry in Paris. 

“We  go to the conference with a good intention to reach a solution but as  it takes two to Tango, it depends on the other party and those who stand behind it and if they want a political solution or not,” the minister said. 

He pointed out that  the opposition abroad should not pose preconditions for attending the conference, noting  that members of the ” Doha coalition,” gathered in Istanbul are tools for international forces conspiring  against Syria, and there is a national opposition in Syria of  independent decision ,  that  must be represented at the conference. 

He went on  that Syria has a constitution explains the powers of the  President, the Prime Minister and the ministers  and if the participants in the dialogue decide that it needs to be modified or changed or a new constitution to be laid, it will be put into a referendum and until then, the current constitution   will remain in force. 

“No one is  entitled to interfere in the issue of Presidency in Syria,  but the Syrian people, and therefore the US  or any other side  have nothing to do who will rule Syria, and if we allow this, legitimacy of all  Presidents of world countries becomes  questionable , and this should not be allowed in international relations,” he emphasized . 

He went on that Syria  would respond to any Israeli aggression and any breach of its sovereignty immediately and the  refund will be commensurate with the size of aggression and  according to the UN charter , the right to retaliate  is justified . 

” Israel occupies the Golan,  a dear part for the  hearts of all Syrians , and the Syrians became more aware of the conspiracy  and if they decide  to stand with people’s  resistance in the Golan no one can stand in the face of the will of people,” he stressed .

 He  explained that Western countries allegations about chemical weapons in Syria  are false and that  Syria will not allow any international team to come to wreak havoc as they did in Iraq. 

He indicated  that the decisions issued by the meetings of the so-called Arab ministerial committee on Syria were Qatari  projects, some of which were circulated  in English because the U.S. handed it  over to the Qatari side , who did not have enough time to translate them. 

He made it clear  that certain  Arab states allied with the US  conspired  against Syria  and stabbed it in the  back. 

 T. Fateh