Syria doesn’t want to discuss a ready-made constitution, but to draft it article by article: al-Moallem
NEW YORK, (ST)- Syria doesn’t want to discuss a ready-made constitution, but to draft it article by article because this constitution will decide the future of Syria for generations to come, Deputy Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid al-Moallem has reiterated, affirming Syria’s rejection of any foreign interference in the work of the newly formed constitutional commitee.
In an interview with Russia Today on Sunday on the sidelines of the 74th Session of The UN general Assembly, al-Maollem said that when one or two articles in a constitution are amended this constitution becomes a new one because it will be put for a popular referendum. “We haven’t called only for discussing the current constitution and we don’t rule out discussing drafting a new constitution. These are the rules of procedure and we are committed to them. So, before drafting a new constitution we must discuss the current constitution which has been popular with people was shown by a popular referendum,” al-Moallem said, pointing out that if we don’t reach understanding with the other side, we can discuss another constitution, but not a ready-made one”.
On the situation in Idleb, al-Moallem said that the Turkish regime hasn’t implemented its commitments pursuant to Astana and Sochi agreements and it keeps training and arming the terrorists, thereby allowing the blacklisted Jabhat al-Nusra to control 90% of the province of Idleb which has become the biggest hotbed for foreign terrorists in the world. He pointed out that the home countries of these terrorists don’t want them to return fearing terrorist attacks.
Al-Moallem reaffirmed Syria’s determination to liberate Idleb and the rest of the Syrian territories from terrorism and the illegal presence of foreign troops.
The foreign minister refuted the claims made by the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the Syrian army using chemical weapons in its war on terrorism. He said “the United States is suffering from many internal problems because of the dispute between the Republicans and the Democrats and when the date of the presidential and the congress elections nears these problems become deeper. So the US administration’s behavior in the international arena is an attempt to export the country’s internal crises.”
He made it clear that Pompeo’s lies and allegations, which aim at misleading US and world public opinion regarding the use of chemical weapons, are an unprecedented behavior and a misleading campaign by a foreign minister seeking to undermine Syria’s success at the political and military levels.
Syrian-Russian Strategic Ties
The Syrian top diplomat highlighted the deep-rooted and strategic relations between Syria and Russia. He said Russia has responded to Syria’s request to participate in the war on terrorism alongside the Syrian army since September, 2015. During this period, the terrorist organizations in Syria suffered heavy losses and many terrorist-held areas were liberated. He added that Russia has also foiled all the US and western attempts to target Syria in the Security Council.
He expressed hope that the level of economic relations between the two countries will be upgraded to match the political and military relations.
Regarding a shift in the western stance towards restoring relations with Syria, al-Moallem clarified that many
European countries want this to happen and they keep contacting us through parliamentary delegations, but they fear the anger of the US , therefore, we don’t count much on a European role in improving these relations.
“Europe, as an economic power, is great, but it remains a blunt sword,” he said.
Hamda Mustafa