Syria Delegation to Moscow Consultative meeting: One Who wants to take part in inter- Syrian dialogue without Foreign Interference, Welcomed in Damascus

MOSCOW, (ST)_ Several meetings were held yesterday in the course of the consultative meeting between the Syrian delegation and opposition figures, after members of the two sides observed one minute silence in honor of the Syrian military and civilian martyrs, at the request of the Syrian delegation.

The Syrian delegation criticized that the opposition figures gave no mention in their interventions for Israel and its key role in the political scene, as well as the Turkish, Qatari, Saudi Arabia and US role.

The Syrian delegation said that one who wants to participate in the inter-Syrian dialogue without foreign interference is welcomed in Damascus, expressing Syria’s solidarity with Russia people and government concerning the attack against the Russian embassy in Damascus.

During the first session speech, chairman of the Syrian delegation Dr. Bashar al-Jaafari, emphasized that this consultative meeting should not be a propaganda event but a platform for reflecting the purpose of this meeting, which comes under challenges faced by the country.

Jaafari said that since the beginning of the crisis, the Syrian government has made necessary measures to protect citizens and the homeland and opened to dialogue,modified many laws and legislation, including parties law that draws political life, availing the formation of political parties to ensure political pluralism and called on all spectrums of society to draft of a new constitution approved by the majority of the Syrian people through a popular referendum.

He continued that the Syrian government responded to all Arab and international initiatives and cooperated with them in a constructive and transparent manner, starting from Dabi mission, Gen. Maude task, and the two UN envoys Kofi Annan and Lakhdar Brahimi, regretting that these initiatives have not yet succeeded in eliminating the crisis due to the intervention of certain regional and world countries in an unprecedented against Syria.

al-Jaafari also regretted that the Syrian people have paid a heavy price and still of the lives of people, civilization, cultural heritage, the infrastructure and income earnings, before it was found out  that a terrorist war waged on Syria by mercenaries who came from 83 countries and therefore the fight against terrorist organizations and terrorism should be the duty of every Syrian as a priority in the roadmap to end the crisis.

Jaafari stressed said that the Syrian government considers the national opposition as a partner in the inter- Syrian dialogue process and therefore efforts of all the government and the opposition should be united in order to restore security, safety and stability to the whole country.

He went on that the participation of the Syrian government delegation in the meeting is based on the content of the Russian invitation message for the exchange of ideas and opinions about what could be the basis for any inter- Syrian dialogue to be held in Damascus provides for confirming the national principles of honoring Syria’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, respecting the will of the Syrian people and the rule of law and maintain and develop the State institutions and consider the army and the armed forces as a symbol of national unity, and the national independent decision and the struggle for the liberation of the Golan Heights in full.

At the beginning of his speech, Jaafari, thanked the “Russian friends”, represented by the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Institute of Orientalism in the person of Professor Vitaly Naomkn and his team for hosting this preparatory Consultative Meeting between the delegation of the Syrian Government and various opposition figures, that are taking in this meeting to discuss the prospects for the establishment of an inter- Syrian comprehensive and open dialogue in Damascus.

However, SANA correspondent in Moscow said that part of the opposition presented a paper including items addressed to the Syrian government delegation and that an argument broke out between them because of the lack of agreement on the said paper.

The consultative meetings will be resumed, today Thursday at ten a. m.

 T. Fateh