Ban rejection of Assad bid worsens Syria crisis: Iran MP

An Iranian lawmaker says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s rejection of President Bashar al-Assad’s latest proposal for ending the Syrian conflict complicates the crisis.

“Although the UN[-Arab League Special] Envoy to Syria [Lakhdar Brahimi] has traveled to this country several times seeking a peaceful transition of power via consultation with other states and the Syrian government, the remarks made by the UN Secretary-General have caused [further] tension in the Syria crisis,” Hossein Sobhaninia said Friday.

He added that Ban’s comments would give militants and their supporters the green light to continue warmongering in Syria.

In a key speech on January 6, Assad said his government is always ready to hold talks with the opposition and political parties and will call for a “comprehensive national dialog” after foreign parties end their support for the militants and the terrorist activities end in the country.

The Syrian president also called for an end to terrorist operations inside Syria and urged “concerned states and parties” to stop funding, arming and harboring militants.

On January 7, the UN chief shunned Assad’s calls and proposals for ending the ongoing unrest in the crisis-stricken country, echoing a Western call for regime change in Syria.

“Today, the United Nations and its Secretary-General are not fulfilling their duty to protect the independence and sovereignty of countries and with their hostile stance they are violating the UN Charter,” Sobhaninia pointed out.

Syria has been the scene of unrest since early 2011 and has witnessed the deaths of many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel in the violence.

The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants in Syria are foreign nationals.