Need for International Will to Combat Terrorism Affirmed

DAMASCUS- An Australian delegation comprising academics, researchers and activists, representing the “Syria Friends and Hand off Syria” Group, is visiting Syria to know what is really happening in the country away from the misleading information promoted by some Western media about the situation in Syria. The delegation, which was led by Professor Tim Anderson, has had the opportunity to meet senior Syrian officials for this purpose.

In his meeting with the delegation, Speaker of the People’s Assembly Mohammad Jihad al-Lahham affirmed the important role that can be played by academics, intellectuals, politicians and journalists in raising awareness about the danger of terrorism which is a borderless problem that can be spilled over worldwide if not curbed quickly.

“There should be a real international will to fight terrorism and uncover its supporters, mainly Saudi Arabia which is keen on promoting the takfiri Wahhabi thinking in the entire world,” said al-Lahham, adding that Syria is being exposed to organized international terrorism committed by armed groups backed by the United States and Western countries and financed by some Arab regimes like Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

He briefed the delegation on the unjust West economic siege which mainly targeted the Syrian citizens’ living and on the sanctions imposed on the Syrian media aiming to hide the crimes of the terrorist groups in Syria.

Al-Lahham asserted the Syrian government’s insistence to attain a peaceful political solution to the crisis in Syria based on national dialogue away from any foreign interference, pointing out that the so-called “Syrian opposition” abroad has no popular base in the country as they are tools for the countries which conspire on Syria.

For his part, Anderson said the delegation visited Syria to investigate the involvement of some Australian citizens in fighting along with the armed terrorist groups in the country and to know the parties which had provided them with financial, logistic and military support.

He pointed out that “the Australian authorities have recently arrested two Australian citizens planning to come to Syria to join fighting.”

Other members of the delegation stressed that terrorism should be halted in Syria and uncovered that they have got documents which implicate many Western countries in supporting terrorism in Syria and refute  some countries’ allegations which accuses the Syrian government of using chemical weapons in Damascus Countryside.

In another meeting with the delegation, Health Minister Sa’d al-Nayef called for lifting the economic siege imposed on the Syrian people and for forcing the countries which support the armed groups to pressure them to stop their attacks against health institutions, ambulances and medicine convoys.

The minister stressed that despite the unprecedented challenges, the health sector in Syria is stable and the ministry keeps providing necessary health care to all citizens without exceptions.

Anderson, who wondered why hospitals and health facilities are targeted, hailed as “great achievement” the health services provide by the ministry to the citizens free of charge despite the extraordinary circumstances.

The Australian delegation also held meetings with Awqaf Minster Abdul Salam Assayed and the Grand Mufti Badr Eddin Hassoun.

Talks focused on the state of coexistence the Syrians have been living for centuries and which is now being targeted by the foreign-backed terrorists to undermine Syria’s cultural diversity.

“Islam in Syria is moderate and has nothing to do with extremism. It is based on humanitarian values that maintain the dignity of mankind,” the Grand Mufti said.

Members of the delegation expressed their readiness to convey the real image of Syria events to the Australian public opinion away from any kind of misleading media reports.

H. Mustafa