Syria committed to a political solution that respects its sovereignty, independence and unity

Syria is committed to a political settlement based on intra-Syrian dialogue that respects its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bassam Sabbagh said during a Security Council meeting on Friday, reiterating that Syria won’t concede this firm principle.

Sabbagh added that  Syria hopes that the meetings of the sixth round of the Constitutional Committee will be held soon, stressing the need not to interfere in its work.

He clarified that the national delegation to the meetings of the Constitutional Committee has responded positively to all requirements of maintaining the work of this committee as proposed by the UN Chief’s Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pdersen, pointing out that any attempt to falsify the facts and the reached agreements will contribute to impeding the committee’s work.

Sabbagh went on to say that within the framework of Syria’s efforts to consolidate national reconciliation, President Bashar Al-Assad has issued a decree last May granting general amnesty for perpetrators of some crimes , offenses and violations committed before issuing this decree. He added that dozens of detainees from the towns of Douma, Erbin, Kafar Batna and some other towns in Damascus Countryside were released within thanks to this decree.

 He went in to say that Syria is also sparing no effort to guarantee releasing the hostages and kidnapped persons held by the terrorist organizations to bring them back to their families, but Syria’s efforts have been hindered by the Turkish regime’s non-commitment to its pledges pursuant to the Astana process by obstructing serious swaps and deliberately reducing the number of the hostages and kidnapped persons included in the swap deal.

Sabbagh pointed out that some Security Council members ignore the fact that the terrorist organizations are holding many kidnapped persons and hostages and ignore the need to unveil the fate of thousands of missing Syrian persons in terrorist-held areas.

The senior Syrian diplomat criticized the silence of the Security Council over the repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territories as well as the aggressive practices of the American and Turkish occupation forces towards the Syrians in cooperation with their affiliated terrorist groups and separatist militias.

He affirmed that these practices violate the international law, the UN Charter, as well as Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

He made it clear that some western states, mainly the permanent members of the Security Council seek perpetuating an illegal situation in Syria through supporting separatist militias and allowing their delegations to infiltrate, like thieves, into Syrian territories without the permission of the Syrian government.

He noted in this regard to the recent illegal entry of an American delegation led by the Charge de Affairs of the US Assistant Secretary of State to Syria.

“Are the American forces allowed to cross the Iraqi-Syrian borders as if they were crossing from New York to New Jersy, in order to loot Syrian oil, wheat and other resources and kill Syrian civilians in a blatant violation of the Security Council Resolutions and the UN Charter”? he asked.

 He also wondered if this behavior reflects commitment to Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity by a country that is presumed to be a protector of international peace and security.

Sabbagh revealed that in the coming period, Syria will officially ask for forcing the United States to pay for what it has stolen of Syrian oil, wheat and other resources to the Syrian state with the aim of compensating part of what the Syrian people have lost in the US looting crimes.

Sabbagh also emphasized that the Turkish regime led by Erdogan continues to support terrorist organizations in Syria and to adopt a Turkification policy in the areas it occupies in the north and northwest of tge country in an attempt to obliterate the Syrian national identity through making demographic and administrative changes in these areas, seizing Syrian lands and setting up a “separation Wall” on these lands, naming Syrian streets and squares with Turkish names, Turkifying the curricula, operating Turkish communication companies, controlling the electricity networks and imposing the Turkish Lira in trade activities.

“Until when the Security Council will continue to keep silent over the Turkish regime’s violations”, Sabbagh asked.

He asserted that holding the presidential elections in Syria on due time is a constitutional entitlement that aimed at maintaining the work of the state’s institutions and avoiding a constitutional vacuum, however, some countries’ insistence on not recognizing the Syrians’ option and not changing their wrong policies in Syria and the region have brought nothing but terrorism, chaos, instability, insecurity, vandalism and  threats to the lives of civilians.

He urged these countries to reconsider their policies which violate the principles of the international law, the UN Charter and the principle of  friendly relations among states.

“It is time for some countries, which claim that they are keen on respecting Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and on supporting the restoration of security and stability to Syria to adopt political dialogue and diplomacy as a policy instead of adopting aggression, threat, pressure, dictates and coercive measures. He also urged putting an end to these countries’ aggressive policies towards Syria and lifting the unfair siege that have been imposed on the Syrians and that have massively affected their life.

Hamda Mustafa