West is not a true supporter of regional people: Iranian official

 TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has advised Western countries to provide sincere support to the people of the region instead of chanting empty slogans.

 Mehmanparast made the remarks during an interview with the Tehran Times on the sidelines of the Syrian national dialogue meeting, which was held in Tehran on Sunday, in reply to a question about the fact that France on Saturday welcomed Mounzir Makhous, a member of the new Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, as the country’s ambassador.

 Mehmanparast stated, “The measures of Western countries mostly amount to interference in the internal affairs of regional countries. They have proved in practice that they are not truly seeking to support the rights of the people of regional countries. 

 “If they had been the true advocates of regional people, they should not have maintained silence on and condoned the Zionist regime’s crimes being committed against the defenseless and innocent people of Palestine and Gaza.” 

 “Therefore, we regard as an insincere the intention of the Western countries which fan the flames of violence, extremism, and terrorism and make efforts to send weapons to Syria in every way possible and make decisions for the Syrian people. And we advise them to provide a sincere support to people instead of interfering in the affairs of Middle East and regional countries,” Mehmanparast stated.

 He also said that in Syria, “Violence should be stopped and the people should express their demands in an election held under proper conditions.”

 Europe seeking to justify interference in regional countries 

 Mehmanparast also replied to a question about the fact that British Foreign Secretary William Hague announced on Friday that European Union members were discussing whether to overturn an arms embargo on Syria, which was adopted in May 2011. 

 The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said, “Basically, we think that the countries supporting the Zionist regime are responsible for instability in Syria and in the region. They have always been seeking various pretexts to justify their presence (in) and their interference in the internal affairs of regional countries.”

 Their claims of support for the people of regional countries are false, he added.

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