CHEMICAL WEAPONS POLITICIZED BY US AND UN: DEMANDS FOR FULL INVESTIGATION INTO FSA’S USE OF WMDS

 

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Alexandra Valiente

Information Minister:  Western Sides Are Directly Responsible for Chemical Weapons Use in Khan al-Assal

Apr 26, 2013

MOSCOW, (SANA)- Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said the chemical weapons used by terrorists in Khan al-Assal in Aleppo countryside probably arrived from Turkey, stressing that the Western allegations that the Syrian army used chemical weapons in other areas are not credible.

Russia Today website quoted al-Zoubi as saying in a statement that the missile which targeted Khan al-Assal area was launched from a place where terrorists exist and which is not far from the Turkish lands.

He pointed out that the Syrian government took the initiative to request a probe into the incident, reiterating Syria’s support for having Russian experts investigating the use of chemical weapons in Khan al-Assal.

Answering a question about the Western allegations which claim that chemical weapons were used by the Syrian army in other areas, the Information Minister said “The U.S.-British and Western allegations in general on that issue do not have any credibility.”

Al-Zoubi held the Western sides directly responsible for what happened in Khan al-Assal, saying they want now to hide behind this “fabricated and false” talk to justify their silence on failing the investigation mission requested by Syria and to exonerate the terrorists.

The Minister added that the US is already involved in large-scale terrorist operations in the world and is involved in Syria now because of its support for and silence on the terrorism committed by the terrorist groups.

H. Said

Lukashevich: UN Dealt in Politicized Manner with Syria’s Call for Investigating Opposition’s Use of Chemical Weapons

Apr 26, 2013

MOSCOW, (SANA) – Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said that the UN dealt in a politicized manner with Syria’s call for forming a committee to investigate the opposition forces’ use of chemical weapons in Aleppo.

In a statement to journalists on Friday, Lukashevich said that Russia doesn’t understand why the UN decided to follow those who don’t care about making tangible efforts to prevent the use of toxic materials and who instead care only about changing the political system in the sovereign Syria.

He pointed out that much noise is being made and many statements are being issued by representatives of the US, Britain and others regarding the allegations of the use of chemical use in Syria, propagating rumors that rely chiefly on CIA sources who claim that toxic materials have been used in small amounts in combat, although this information is incomplete and difficult to ascertain.

Lukashevich pointed to the fact that the Syrian government addressed the Security Council as soon as opposition armed groups detonated a projectile containing toxic materials near Aleppo on March 19th, calling for a comprehensive investigation of this incident, but sadly the UN Secretary-General’s position shifted drastically after being positive initially due to pressure exerted by some countries.

“In fact, and based on information from the French and British sides who remembered after a long silence other alleged cases of the use of chemical weapons, the UN called on Damascus to approve a permanent supervision mechanism that has unlimited right of access to anywhere in the country,” Lukashevich said, pointed out that the proposed inspection plan is similar to the one used in Iraq which was then under sanctions, contrary to Syria.

He affirmed that the change in the UN’s position is a display of politicization, effectively preventing a tangible investigation of the Aleppo incident.

H. Sabbagh

Pushkov Warns of US Accusations of Chemical Weapons Use in Syria

Apr 26, 2013

MOSCOW, (SANA)- Chairman of the Russian Duma’s International Affairs Committee, Alexei Pushkov, warned of the US intentions behind making accusations against the Syrian government of using chemical weapons.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Pushkov said such accusations could be used as a pretext to start a war against Syria similar to what happened in Iraq.

“The US is starting a new attack against Syria by accusing it of using chemical weapons, which is the same way Push used in Iraq accusing it of possessing nuclear weapons as an excuse for war,” added Pushkov.

\US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel earlier claimed, according to what he said a belief by the US Intelligence, that the Syrian army has used chemical weapons “on a small scale”.

In a contradictory statement, the US State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said the White House was still seeking an accurate investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Syria which can be either confirmed or dismissed simply through UN inspectors.

H. Said

Bogdanov Meets Lebanese President, Stresses on Political Solution in Syria 

Apr 26, 2013

BEIRUT, (SANA)- The Russian President’s Special Representative to the Middle East, Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, reiterated his country’s rejection of military intervention in Syria, calling for concerted regional and international efforts to help in finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria.

Bogdanov was speaking during a meeting on Friday with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to whom Bogdanov delivered a message from President Vladimir Putin affirming Russia’s support for stability in Lebanon and for Baabda Declaration which is based on non-interference in other countries’ affairs, particularly Syria.

Following the meeting, the Russian diplomat stressed that the only option to solve the crisis in Syria is the political option through dialogue and on the basis of the Geneva Statement.

Bogdanov said his country is exerting efforts towards implementing the Geneva Statement particularly in regard to dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition and appointing the representatives from both sides to come to the table and start dialogue.

He indicated agreement between the Russian and Lebanese foreign ministries on the necessity of respecting the international principles and conventions when approaching urgent international issues.

Bogdanov added that both sides also agreed on continuing coordination and support in the framework of the efforts seeking solutions to the urgent problems in the region, particularly to the crisis in Syria through comprehensive national dialogue.

Bogdanov also met Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon Nabih Berri, affirming that the only way to solve the issues facing Lebanon and the region countries in the current time is the comprehensive national dialogue.

He pointed out that the national dialogue is the way of solution for all problems in the  region countries, including Syria.

Bogdanov: Russia Completely Rejects US-Western Allegation on Chemical Weapons in Syria

Bogdanov stressed his country’s rejection of any sort of promoting a military operation against Syria, including the US-Western allegations which accuse the Syrian Army of using chemical weapons in its war against the armed groups.

In an interview on the Lebanese al-Manar TV, Bogdanov stressed that “We must have information and evidence, not only media reports that are not based on facts. Force was used in Iraq after accusing the country of possessing WMDs, but eventually these allegations were proven to be baseless.”

He described the calls of some sides for the people in Lebanon to go to Syria for “Jihad” as calls to commit crimes.

English Bulletin

Foreign Ministry: Brahimi’s Briefing at Security Council Interference in Syria’s Affairs

Apr 25, 2013

DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said that the briefing presented by UN Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi to the Security Council on April 14th was marked by interfering in Syria’s internal affairs and by being removed from the neutrality he should adhere to as an international mediator.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry said that Syria cooperated with Brahimi and will continue to do so in the context of him being a UN envoy only, since the Arab League is a side in conspiring against Syria and since the League’s role was over since it terminated the mission of the team led by al-Dabi on February 12th, 2012.

The statement said that the continuation of Brahimi in his mission requires him to prove his neutrality as a UN mediator who adheres to the UN Charter and international law and who realizes that the Syrian people alone can decide their future and choose their representatives without interference by any side, stressing that Brahimi shouldn’t take sides, especially if the side he takes is composed – as everyone now knows – of militant groups belonging to Jabhet al-Nusra which is affiliated with Al Qaeda and which practices terrorism against the Syria people.

The Ministry said that if Brahimi wants his mission to succeed, he is expected to begin work with sides involved in order to halt violence and terrorism and stop it at the source, in addition to exposing the role played by some European countries – particularly France and Britain – alongside Turkey and Arab countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia who fund, arm and train Jabhet al-Nusra terrorists and groups affiliated with them and send them to Syria.

Te statement said that constantly ignoring the political program for resolving the crisis proposed by Syria on January 6th, 2013, shows clear and unjustified bias, since there is no other political program by any side in the Syrian opposition inside the country and abroad which bases itself on national dialogue among Syrians and led by Syria.

H. Sabbagh

 

Foreign Ministry: Syria Will Continue to Confront Organized Takfiri Terrorism

Apr 25, 2013

DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Foreign and Expatriates Ministry on Wednesday sent two identical letters addressed to the UN Security Council President and the UN Secretary General, on the abduction of Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo and Iskenderun, Bishop Paul Yazigi, and Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo, Bishop John Ibrahim by an armed group affiliated with Jabhet al-Nusra.

The letters said that an armed group led by Chechen terrorists intercepted the car transporting the Bishops on Monday April 22, 2013, in the western part of Aleppo city while the two were on their way back from a humanitarian mission, with the terrorists murdering the deacon who was driving the car and taking the Bishops to an unknown location.

The Ministry affirmed that this crime is part of the exteremist terrorist activity carried out by armed group affiliated with Jabhet al-Nusra and their foreign mercenaries, and that regional countries are supporting these terrorists’ activities which are based on dark Takfriri mentality and target the symbols of coexistence and tolerance, noting that this is part of the plot which recently targeted Islamic scholar Dr. Mohammad Saeed Ramadan al-Bouti.

The Ministry stressed that Syria is determined to confront this organized Takfiri terrorism which targets its national unity and the cohesion of its society which is culturally, religiously and ethnically diverse, pointing out that this diversity has been a characteristic of Syria for hundreds of years and represents a model of coexistence in the region.

The letters said that Syria is motivated in this by its people’s awareness and determination to confront exclusionist extremist mentality which terrorist groups seek to spread and which spares no sanctities, including places of worship.

The Ministry called for putting an end to the terrorism of armed groups, warning against ithe repercussions of this extremism which knows no boundaries and hoping that the Security Council will issue a clear statement that expresses the international community’s rejection of such crimes, voices determination to hold its perpetrators and their supporters accountable, and calls all countries to adhere to their legal obligations to refrain from providing any form of support to terrorism regardless of location, time or justifications.

The letters were concluded by affirming that Syria affirms that political settlement based on dialogue among Syrians and led by Syrians requires a cessation of the violence perpetrated by the Al Qaeda-affiliated armed terrorist groups, which requires exerting pressure on the countries which provide all sorts of support to these groups so that they can stop escalating violence and terrorism through their financial support and their providing political and media cover for it.

H. Sabbagh

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian  
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