Syria calls on UNSC to condemn Turkish government’s aggressive acts
DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Foreign and Expatriates Ministry has slammed the UN Security Council sitting idly by as the Turkish government and some regional and international parties continue supporting al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist groups in Syria to fuel the crisis.
The ministry underscored in two identical letters sent today (Thursday) to the International Security Council’s Head and the UN Secretary General that these aggressive practices (direct or indirect support for terrorists) are blatant violation of the international law, the UN resolutions related to combatting terrorism, and principle of not meddling in countries’ internal affairs.
The letters included clues and accurate information about the involvement of the Turkish government in fueling the current crisis in Syria.
Clues
“While the Turkish government explicitly declares through the remarks made by Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in Geneva, Vienna and Rome that it intervenes in the Syrian internal affairs, it goes ahead with sheltering, training, and funding the al-Qaeda-affiliated armed terrorist groups by all means,” the ministry said.
It added that several Turkish MPs have recently raised before the Turkish Parliament a number of cases that proves the Turkish government’s involvement in the ongoing crisis in Syria.
“”Two months ago, the Turkish Interior Ministry permitted the Libyan “Intesar” ship, which was carrying 250 Libyan terrorists to enter Syria plus 400tons of weapons to be delivered to terrorists inside Syria,to enter Iskenderun Port.
In addition, the Turkish MP Atilla Kart from the Republican People’s Party submitted an enquiry list to the Parliament calling on the Turkish government to explain reasons behind allowing three C-130 Saudi airplanes to use the Turkish airspace to transport weapons and gunmen to Syria and whether the airplanes had carried “fighters” from al-Qaeda.
Another clue about Turkish government’s involvement in the crisis in Syria was presented few days ago by the Turkish Cumhuriyet newspaper which reported that the MP Hursit Gunes has submitted a criminal complaint against officials of the Turkish government because of their policy towards Syria.
Speaking at a news conference, the MP said: “The government of Justice and Development Party trains gunmen in Turkey, transports weapons to Syria and supports the armed groups inside Syria by all means.”
The minister pointed out that Reuters quoted some armed terrorist groups’ leaders as saying on February, 27th, 2013: “Last month, weapons shipment arrived in Syria via Turkey. It included military equipment such as anti-aircraft and ant-tank weapons, mortar rounds, and rocket launchers. The weapons were received in a legal way, through Bab al-Hawa crossing, and not through smuggling corridors.”
The UNSC inaction
It stressed that turning blind eyes to the above mentioned clues would give a cover to al-Qaeda-affiliated armed terrorist groups and encourage the countries which support them to perpetrate more crimes against the Syrian people.
In conclusion, the ministry appealed to the UNSC to condemn aggressive practices of the Turkish government and the other countries that back and fund the armed terrorist groups, and hold them responsibility for the events taking place in Syria.
“Adopting serious stances by the international community would lead to resolve the crisis and encourage the Syrian opposition parties to take part in the national dialogue to bring about a solution to the on going crisis through negotiation among Syrians, themselves, and under Syria’s leadership,” the ministry said.
BasmaQaddour