Ban Syria remarks unconstructive

An Iranian lawmaker says the remarks by the UN secretary general on the recent speech by Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad would worsen the turmoil in the country.

According to IRIB, Javad Jahangirzadeh, a member of Iran’s Majlis Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy, said on Saturday that Ban Ki-moon should have expressed more precise views about Assad’s plan.
On January 7, Ban expressed dismay over Assad’s proposals for ending the unrest in Syria, echoing a Western call for regime change in the country.
In a key speech on January 6, Assad stated that Damascus was always ready to hold talks with the opposition and political parties and that he would call for a “comprehensive national dialog” after the terrorist activities stopped in the country.
The Syrian president also urged “concerned states and parties” to stop funding, arming and harboring militants.
The UN chief said Assad’s speech did not contribute to a “solution that could end the terrible suffering of the Syrian people.”
The Iranian legislator also stated that anti-Syria Western governments had a biased view on the developments in the country that would not contribute to the establishment of a political system based on the demands of Syrians.
Jahangirzadeh said the West did not favor the restoration of security and stability in Syria.