Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Moscow, SANA- Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem said on Thursday that Syria’s decision is to combat Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization in Idleb, whatever the sacrifices were, but the priority is for of local reconciliations, warning against “the stupidity of committing a new Western aggression on Syria.”
“Moscow has recently been the center of regional contacts on Syria and we exchanged views on the outcome of these contacts and our views were identical, so I can say that these talks are constructive and positive.” Al-Moallem added at a joint press conference with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
“We and the Russian Federation have been partners in countering terrorism and have fulfilled great field achievements and we are now close to end this terrorism. Naturally, we should think about Syria’s reconstruction program and our friends in the Russian Federation have the priority in contributing to this program,” al-Moallem added.
“We are on the way to achieve security and stability for our people in Syria. We cannot forget the practices of the countries that have been plotting against us from seven years and till now in obstructing us from eliminating terrorism,” al-Maollem said.
He pointed out that when the Syrian Arab Army liberated the city of Douma and the Eastern Ghouta from terrorism, Washington and its allies invoked the use of chemicals and launched aggression against Syria last April. Now they are repeating the same scenario to prepare for a new aggression with the aim of saving al-Nusra and prolonging the crisis.
Al-Moallem affirmed that Syria will perform its legitimate right to defend itself, warning against the stupidity of committing a new Western aggression on the Syrian people because its repercussions will affect the political process inevitably.
“The decision of the Syrian leadership is to combat Jabhat al-Nusra in Idleb, whatever the sacrifices were. We say that the priority is for the local reconciliations which we have carried out in several areas across Syria. We are ready to make every effort to avoid civilian casualties. We opened Abu al-Dahour corridor for a week and interacted with the local reconciliation committees. Unfortunately al-Nusra arrested most of the members of these committees and prevented civilians from exiting via that corridor,” al-Moallem noted.
“We discussed the issue of our joint efforts to bring the displaced Syrians back to their country. We say to the West, who is crying for human rights in Syria, if you really want to help the return of the displaced, you should make efforts to secure the reconstruction of their homes and infrastructure and lift the unilateral sanctions imposed on Syria,” al-Moallem added.
“We welcome and call on the Syrian citizens to return home and contribute to programs of reconstruction and be part of building future… and we will try to provide all economic and social conditions for that purpose,” al-Moallem said.
Lavrov: Moscow, Damascus have views on separating between terrorists and armed groups
Lavrov said that both sides exchanged views about separating between the armed groups and the terrorists in Idleb in addition to the attempts to carry out local reconciliations there guaranteeing security for the civilians.
He called on the international community and the UN to help secure the return of the displaced Syrians to their home, providing them with the humanitarian aid, re-building the infrastructure and creating new job opportunities for them.
Lavrov said that White Helmets are trying to prepare fabricated plays on the use of the chemical weapons in order to find a pretext to the western countries to carry out attacks on Syria.
He called on the international community to intensify their efforts in order to restore stability to Syria, paving the way for restoring the safety and stability to the whole region.
As for the presence of US forces in Syria, Lavrov affirmed that the US and western existence in Syria is illegitimate, adding that the Americans have repeatedly promised to leave the country, but they always create different pretexts for staying there.
“The Americans have repeatedly promised to withdraw from al-Tanf area and allow UN representatives to enter al-Rukban camp, but they didn’t meet their pledge,” Lavrov said.
Al-Moallem: Syria is in the last step to resolve the crisis
Earlier, al-Moallem affirmed that Syria is in the last step to resolve the crisis and liberate all its territories from terrorism and that’s why the US, Britain and France want to attack it with the aim of obstructing the political settlement process and helping Jabhat al-Nusra.
Al-Moallem remarks came at the beginning of a meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.
Al-Moallem affirmed that this visit came at a convenient time to discuss the latest political developments on Syria and also to discuss the economic, cultural and social cooperation between Syria and Russia.
“As we were partners in the fight against terrorism, we want to be partners in the reconstruction process,” al-Moallem said.
“Our people highly appreciate the role of the Russian Federation and President Vladimir Putin in combating terrorism in Syria,” he said.
The minister affirmed Damascus’s appreciation for the role of the Russian Federation, both in the Astana and Sochi meetings and that Syria is committed to the progress of the political process, especially in view of the field situation in Syria.
“We are in the last step to put an end the crisis in our country and liberate our entire territory from terrorism,” he noted.
“The US, UK and France are not happy with the failure of their plot in Syria, so they want to attack it from outside the UN Security Council in order to foil the political process, offer assistance to Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization and prolong the crisis. Therefore, we have the legitimate right to defend ourselves and the aggressor States will bear the disastrous consequences due to their aggression,” said al-Moallem.
“I confirm that we do not have chemical weapons. It is not possible for us to use them because we are victorious in the battles against terrorism and there is no need to use them. Therefore, all the pretexts of the aggressors are exposed,” al-Moallem said.
For his part, Lavrov said that the tasks related to eradicating terrorism from the Syrian territory are coming to an end and it’s time for working to rebuild the Syrian economy and restore stability to all its areas. He pointed out that the projects discussed in the framework of the Syrian-Russian Joint Governmental Committee for Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation will undoubtedly help to achieve this goal.
He added that the two sides will also discuss the external aspects of the situation in Syria with emphasis on the need to attract international assistance.
Lavrov said that it is necessary to implement the outcomes of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi to resolve the crisis in Syria.
Lavrov asserted that the Russian and Syrian positions are clear and based on international resolutions, especially the UNSC resolution no.2254, which states that the Syrians decide their own future.
Earlier, al-Moallem, who chairs the Syrian side at the Syrian-Russian Joint Governmental Committee for Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, arrived in an official visit to Moscow upon an invitation by Lavrov.
Manar/Mazen
