AL-JAAFARI REITERATES REQUEST FOR FULL UN INVESTIGATION INTO CHEMICAL WEAPONS

Thursday, 2 May 2013

AL-JAAFARI REITERATES REQUEST FOR FULL UN INVESTIGATION INTO CHEMICAL WEAPONS

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Alexandra Valiente

Bashar Ja’afari (Syria) on the situation in Syria – United Nations Press Conference
30 Apr 2013 – H.E. Bashar Ja’afari is the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations.

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SEE AL-JAAFARI REFUTES WESTERN WMD PROPAGANDA, REITERATES REQUEST FOR FULL UN INVESTIGATION

Al-Jaafari: Syria Is Waiting Investigation Team into Khan al-Assal Incident, Demands Credible Information on Other Claims

May 01, 2013

NEW YORK, (SANA)- Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Bashar al-Jaafari, said the media, political and diplomatic instigation against Syria along with the frenzied hostile campaign launched against it aim to increase pressure on the Syrian government.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Unites Nations headquarters in New York Tuesday, al-Jaafari made clear that the Syrian government has always affirmed that it will not use chemical weapons, if it has any, against its people.

He added that it was the Syrian government that has taken the initiative to request an immediate investigation to find out the perpetrators of the heinous crime committed in Khan al-Assal area in Aleppo on March 19th.

He noted that the Syrian letter requesting a probe came only few hours after the crime occurred and during this period all accusations were made against the Syrian government promoted by many Arab regional and international political and media sides without confirmed facts.

The Syrian Ambassador to the UN said the Syrian government’s initiative requesting an inquiry has made this campaign of accusations invalid, the thing which pushed the delegations of France and Britain to try to stoke this attack again and undermine the Syrian initiative by requesting an investigation into claims which say that chemical weapons have been used in other areas in Syria.

Al-Jaafari reminded that France and Britain themselves did use different types of weapons of mass destruction, recalling how Winston Churchill, then secretary of state of Britain, used chemical gases in 1920 in Iraq, declaring that “I am strongly in favor of using poisoned gas against uncivilized tribes.”

He also referred to France’s first nuclear tests on neighborhoods in the Algerian desert, recalling also the use of these types of weapons by Italy in Libya and by the US forces which used chemical weapons against the Iraqi city of al-Fallujah in 2004 and ‘Agent Orange’ in Vietnam.

“We haven’t heard anybody condemning or even talking about these inhumane practices, and therefore the countries which are involved in using weapons of mass destruction have no right to hold others to account,” al-Jaafari stressed.

He demanded that the countries which have submitted requests and letters claiming that chemical weapons have been used in Syria in areas other than Khan al-Assal “provide credible information on the alleged incidents so as to study and assess them.”

He added that it is in no way possible to have an investigation mission formed with a limited number of members moving freely on the Syrian land based on letters including baseless claims whose aim is clearly malicious, especially when these letters and requests are submitted by countries that have been hostile towards Syria since the beginning of the crisis.

“We expect the UN General Secretariat not to be part of this campaign targeting Syria,” said al-Jaafari, adding that “What happened in Iraq has been alive in our mind until this moment, and our region in general and Iraq in particular are living the repercussions of such false claims.”

He made clear that Syria has been honest and clear with the UN General Secretariat since the beginning, stressing that the Syrian government is still ready to welcome the investigation team in less than 24 hours according to the agreement reached with Head of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane, on April 4th.

He added that the Syrian government has not closed the door before the UN and the investigation mission regarding any other claims, noting however that respecting the international law and the UN Charter demands a strong respect of the sovereignty of countries.

“This requires that the Syrian government, being the party concerned, be acquainted with the details of incidents which foreign countries claim they have happened on the Syrian land,” al-Jaafari said.

He expressed regret that Syria has so far not received any information concerning these claims despite its repeated requests, regretting that the UN General Secretariat instead has been issuing statements which would give the impression that the Syrian government was not cooperating with it regarding the investigation.

Syria’s UN Representative explained that after the Syrian government agreed with Angela Kane on April 3rd to welcome the investigation mission and discuss relevant logistic details for which a short session was held on April 4th, Kane then went back on the agreement to hold a longer session of talks to complete all items regarding the work mechanism so as for the mission to come to Syria as soon as possible and delivered a letter the next day contrary to the previous agreement.

He added that upon asking Kane about the contradiction, she said that new information have been made available to the UN Secretary General on the other French and British claims although he was then in the Hague.

Al-Jaafari wondered how the UN Secretary General could have new information available to him in less than 42 hours at a time when he was out of the place of his work regarding an incident that was alleged to have taken place on December 23th, 2102.

Al-Jaafari pointed out that the Secretariat General tries to procrastinate on sending an investigation mission, “which raises more doubts on the attempt to politicize the issue to achieve the goal sought by some Western, Arab and regional countries, similar to what happened in Iraq before it was invaded.”

He referred to exchange of letters between the Syrian government and the UN Secretariat General as Syria has so far sent 9 letters in response to 8 letters from the Secretariat, which proves the Syrian government’s readiness to cooperate with the UN to unveil the truth about the crime which took place in Khan al-Assal through cooperation with a neutral and independent specialized technical mission.

He stressed that the Syrian government is still awaiting the team of experts to arrive at Khan al-Assal site to verify the accuracy of the information sent by the General Secretariat.

“We are still waiting to receive any other credible information on the other allegations…The Syrian government believes that the only way for the investigation mission to know the reality of what happened is to go to Syria to conduct investigation on the ground,” the Syrian Ambassador said.

Al-Jaafari referred in this context to terrorists opening bags containing “unknown powder” in the face of citizens they had gathered in Shabour neighborhood and the southern entrance of Saraqib town in Idleb countryside, causing a number of citizens to show symptoms similar to those caused by exposure to chemical weapons.

He added that what is most dangerous was that the terrorists transported the injured citizens to Turkish hospitals to use the incident to accuse the Syrian armed forces of using chemical weapons.

H. Zain/H. Said

Foreign Ministry: Foreign Support to Terrorist Groups Is the Reason behind Continuation of Terrorist Acts

May 01, 2013

DAMASCUS, (SANA)- Syria stresses that the reason behind the continuation of the terrorist acts is the various forms of support provided to the al-Qaeda-linked armed terrorist groups in terms of cash, training and arms, said the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry on Tuesday.

In two identical letters addressed to the UN Security Council President and UN Secretary General, the Ministry added this support provided by certain countries comes in a flagrant violation of these countries’ commitments within the framework of the international law rules and the UN resolutions in the field of combating terrorism.

The Ministry referred in particular to the terrorist car bomb explosion which targeted the convoy of Premier Wael al-Halqi near Ibn Rushd Park in al-Mazzeh area in Damascus on Monday and claimed the lives of 4 people and injured 16 others, with the Prime Minister surviving the attack.

The terrorist blast, the Ministry noted, caused great material damage to the Communications Establishment building , a school and a kindergarten in the heavily populated area.

The Ministry’s letters also referred to the terrorist bombing which hit al-Marjeh neighborhood, that represents the commercial and historical hub of the city of Damascus, on Tuesday and caused the martyrdom of 13 citizens and the injury of more than 70 others, some critically.

The Ministry pointed out that these terrorist acts come in the framework of a systematic series of terrorist attacks that target civilians, institutions, public and private properties, churches and mosques.

The Ministry cited in this context the terrorist attack which hit al-Shahbander area on April 8, referring also to the mortar shell attacks launched by the gunmen on densely populated areas which have killed scores of civilians and injured hundreds of others.

The Ministry affirmed that the targeting of Premier al-Halqi, who is the head of the ministerial committee in charge of implementing the political program to solve the crisis in Syria, is “a clear expression of those sides’ rejection of a political solution.”

“This targeting also reveals the real criminal face of the armed groups and those who stand behind them and are providing support and political cover to them in their approach of terrorism and destruction which they have adopted as an only way to achieve political and ideological goals contrary to the modern values of humanity and to the human nature,” the Ministry added.

It reiterated that this coward act indicates the failure on the part of those sides because of the progress made by the ministerial committee in its consultations with the political and social forces that are willing to participate in the political process so as to reach common visions to make the political program a success.

The letters renewed Syria’s demanding that the Security Council and the UN “firmly and clearly condemn these ugly terrorist crimes in a way that would leave no room for doubt or interpretation.

Syria also calls upon the Security Council and the UN “to stop the support provided by a group of regional, Arab and international countries that still insist on continuing the violence and thwarting the efforts to find apolitical solution to get Syria out of its crisis,” the letters added.

“Syria reiterates its demand that the Security Council take a firm stand through which it stresses its keenness on combating terrorism regardless of its time and place and its seriousness to implement its resolutions in this regard,” the letters said.

They pointed out that the Security Council’s ignoring of these terrorist acts by taking no action “is being interpreted as a setback to the international efforts to fight terrorism and dry up its sources.”

H. Said

Matuzov: Terrorist Operations in Syria Deserve Global Condemnation

Apr 30, 2013

DAMASCUS, (SANA) - Russian political analyst, Viacheslav, Matuzov has stressed that the terrorist operations in Syria must be globally condemned, adding that the international terrorism targeting the Syrian people must end immediately.

In a phone call with the Syrian T.V, Matuzov pointed out that terrorist bombings are aimed at frightening and weakening the Syrian people and government, adding that the destruction caused by terrorists reached historical and commercial places in Damascus.

Matuzov called on all western countries to change their stances, hoping that US would change its stance and join Russia’s efforts to halt the spread of international terrorism in the world.

B. Mousa / F. L

Terrorists Fire Mortar Shells on Residential Areas in Damascus and Aleppo

Apr 30, 2013

RROVINCES, (SANA)- Terrorists fired 3 mortar shells on residential areas and main roads in al-Rawda and al-Middan residential areas and al-Rabwa road in Damascus, causing material damages without casualties.

A source at Damascus Police Command told SANA that a mortar shell fell on residential building in al-Qurashi district near al-Jzmatia market in al-Middan area, causing material damage.

The source added that another mortar shell fell on the area surrounding al-Jahhiz park in al-Rawda area, causing material damage to two parked cars, meanwhile another mortar shell fell on al-Rabua road, damages were limited to materials.

Citizens Injured by Mortar Shells in al-Zahraa, Aleppo

Meanwhile, a number of citizens were injured by mortar shells launched by terrorists on al-Zahraa neighborhood.

An official source told SANA reporter that the terrorist attack injured 4 citizens and caused material damage to several houses and cars parked in the site.

H. Said / B. Mousa/ Mazen

Nasrallah: What is Happening in Syria Aims to Destroy It and Its People, Society and Army

Apr 30, 2013

BEIRUT, (SANA) – Secretary General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, said on Tuesday that the goal of what is happening in Syria isn’t just removing Syria from the resistance axis and the Arab-Israeli conflict, nor is it about seizing power at any cost; rather the goal is to destroy Syria and its people, society and Army and remove it from the regional equation.

In a speech broadcast on al-Manar TV, Nasrallah said that there are two directions that have been prevalent since the crisis began in Syria, the first of which went for military options up to slaughtering people, summoning foreign intervention, and talking about chemical weapons, along with self-styled Islamic scholars who made Fatwas permitting bloodshed based on political positions.

He said that the second direction, which Hezbollah is a part of, calls for political settlement for what is happening in Syria and for resolving the crisis in it, affirming that Syria has true friends in the region in the world who will not allow it to fall into the hands of the US, Israel and Takfiri groups.

“Those who claim to be saddened by the blood being shed in Syria, and those who don’t want the Palestinian cause to be lost, and those who are concerned about Syria must work to find a political settlement and solution for the situation in it,” Nasrallah said, noting that the Palestinian cause is facing the threat of being liquidated due to what is happening in Syria, adding that the situation in Syria affects Lebanon, Iraq and the whole region.

He called upon all sides to let the whole world know in one voice that the war in Syria must stop.

Nasrallah warned against betting on the situation on the ground, because pushing the situation on the ground in dangerous directions will not stop at borders, asserting that those who are concerned about lives, economy and national and pan-Arab interests must uphold their responsibility in finding a comprehensive political situation.

Nasrallah voiced surprise over the sides in Lebanon who claim to distance themselves from what is happening in Syria while they make Fatwas for Jihad there, issue instigating speeches, and send weapons, funds and gunmen to Syria.

He also called for resolving the issue of the Lebanese abductees in Syria and all other abductees, including Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo, Bishop Paul Yazigi, and Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo, Bishop John Ibrahim.
H. Sabbagh