Beijing, SANA- Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem affirmed that liberating all the Syrian geography from terrorism has become close, adding that efforts are continued for reaching a political solution to the crisis in Syria based on the fact that the constitution is a Syrian issue and it should meet the aspirations of the Syrian people.
In an interview with al-Mayadeen TV on Wednesday, al-Moallem said ” We haven’t attacked anyone…We want to liberate our land and this is a legitimate right for us, therefore; I say that terrorism will end very soon and the states will last and continue, particularly if the people in these states are steadfast and they have the hope that liberating all of the Syrian territories has become close.”
“We don’t seek to reach a military confrontation with Turkey, yet this issue is different from our fighting of terrorist organization which are on the lists of the UN,” al-Moallem added.
He reiterated that Idleb is a Syrian province and the operations carried out by the Syrian Arab Army against terrorists there are within the Syrian territories.
The Foreign and Expatriates Minister noted that the Turkish regime hasn’t abided by implementing the de-escalation zone agreement, particularly as Jabhat al-Nusra which is on the list of international terrorism is in control of most of the terrorist factions there.
He expressed hope that Syria with its political and geographical position will be a factor for stability and security for the whole region in which we confidently say that the geopolitical situations getting better.
Al-Moallem noted that China is a permanent member state at the Security Council and it wants to play a constructive role for achieving peace and security in the region, and on the other hand, President Bashar al-Assad gave directives for focusing in our foreign relations on the east, and of course China was within our priorities.
“During my visit to China, I noticed a positive spirit and a determination by the Chinese officials for enhancing the economic relations,” Minister al-Moallem said.
Answering a question on whether “Idleb battel” is expected to achieve its goals which are represented in the withdrawal of the forces of the Turkish regime, al-Moallem said “This is what we hope and we work on achieving as the concept of occupation has vanished in this age….We aren’t in the Middle Ages and we are not engaged in wars that end with conventions….”
“Syria in all the resolutions of the Security Council and as it is admitted by the US, the international community and Turkey also is a sovereign state which they call for preserving its territorial integrity and independence and whoever recognizes that should abide by it and apply it,” al-Moallem said.
He asserted that the Turkish regime which is occupying parts of the Syrian territories, must pull out its troops and must recognize Syria’s territorial integrity and independence and if it doesn’t do that we consider its forces as occupation forces that are not different from “Israel”, and the Turkish regime should also stop training and arming terrorist groups.
In a response to a question on Turkey’s participation in the upcoming Astana meetings, al-Moallem “This is their affair and decision…We in Astana deal with the Russian friends and the Iranian brothers and we don’t deal with the Turkish side.”
Regarding the return of the displaced Syrians, Minister al-Moallem said that Astana discusses this issue, but the West always hinders the return of those and it conspires against us and links this issue to the political settlement and the elections, and we welcome the return of the displaced and provide all the facilitations for their return.”
He added ” What is being said about that the Syrian Government doesn’t cooperate in this domain is void and I defy those who accuse Syria of persecuting, torturing or arresting any of the returnees to prove that, but the opposite is right as we provide all the required facilitations for the returnees.”
Ruaa al-Jazaeri