Al-Moallem: Syria Welcomes Iraq’s Proposal… Mikdad: Turkey Plays Destructive Role in Syria

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem said that Iraq proposed forming a contact group from the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member countries to solve the crisis in Syria, affirming that Syria welcomes the proposal.

In statement to journalists following his meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Friday, al-Moallem said “The talks dealt with the very good relations between Syria and Iraq and the importance of bolstering them, as well as the Iraqi proposal on forming a contact group from the Non-Aligned Movement member countries to help solve the crisis in Syria.”

Mikdad: Turkey Plays Destructive Role in Syria by Training Terrorists and Providing Passage for Al Qaeda into Syria

Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad affirmed that Turkey is playing a destructive role in Syria by training terrorists and providing passage for Al Qaeda into Syria, stressing that this issue warrants a real treatment and that if Turkey doesn’t respond then it should be placed on the list of countries supporting terrorism.

In a statement in Tehran, Mikdad said that Syria believes that the aforementioned points contradict the interests of the Turkish people who reject much of their government’s policies towards Syria, voicing hope that the Turkish government will come to its senses and that relations will return to normal because Turkey has lost much due to its positions.

He pointed out that the money being given to terrorist will reflect negatively not just on Syria, but on all the region’s countries including Arab Gulf countries, saying that this issue mustn’t be overlooked as it threatens stability in the Middle East.

Mikdad described the meeting between Prime Minister Dr. Wael al-Halqi and Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki as positive, with both sides emphasizing the need for cooperation between the two countries and the necessity of removing all obstacles hindering the establishment of solid relations between Iraq and Syria in all fields.

“We discussed the Iraqi initiative on Syria which deserves every attention and which includes forming a liaison team by the Non-Aligned Movement to support international efforts exerted to resolve the crisis in Syria,” he said, adding that he told al-Maliki that Syria supports and welcomes this initiative.

He said that the fact that there are numerous initiatives shows true interest in resolving the situation in Syria, affirming that Syria welcomes the Iraqi initiative and the NAM troika along with any suggestions from the Iranian friends.

Mikdad pointed out that during his meeting with the Syrian delegation on the sideline of the Tehran summit, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon affirmed that the Syrian crisis is a priority on the UN agenda and that he wants a peaceful solution to the crisis.

He went on to say that Syria informed Ki-moon of the foreign interferences which are exacerbating the situation in Syria, telling him that if the UN wants an active role in Syria, then it should deal with the other external side and regional sides that don’t want stability in Syria, and it should work to prevent terrorism.

Mikdad added that the second issue discussed during the meeting with Ki-moon was the issue of humanitarian aid, with the delegation informing him that Syria is prepared to accept aid and facilitate its delivery to all Syrians.

Regarding the NAM summit, Mikdad said it was a success in spite of all the conspiracies and pressure exerted by countries who don’t want the gatherings of developing countries to succeed, voicing hope that the summit will be concluded with the same enthusiasm with which it began.

He clarified that the closing statement will include three articles related to Syria: the NAM’s support for the liberation of the occupied Syrian Golan from Israeli occupation, rejecting and condemning the unilateral sanctions imposed on Syria, and the current situation in Syria, adding that NAM members underlined the international efforts exerted to resolve the crisis and stressed the need to support the mission of the new UN Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi and to permit humanitarian aid.