Latin America

Chavez condemns West for supporting ‘terrorists’ in Syria


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says Caracas backs Russia and China in dealing with the issue of Syria’s unrest, condemning the West for funding “terrorists to destabilize” the Middle Eastern country.

Chavez made the remarks during a news conference upon his return from a trip to Brazil, stressing that Damascus should solve its problems.

“Of course, we share the position of Russia and China, our allies, that Syria’s sovereignty be respected and that if Syria has problems, that Syrians be the ones to solve them in a peaceful manner.”

On July 19, Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution against Syria for the third time.

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said, “We simply cannot accept a document under Chapter 7, one which would open the path for the pressure of sanctions and further to external military involvement in Syrian domestic affairs.”

On February 4, Russia and China also vetoed a Western-backed draft resolution on Syria at the Security Council. The two countries rejected the draft as “unbalanced.”

In addition, Moscow and Beijing vetoed a European-drafted UN Security Council resolution against Syria on October 5, 2011.

The Venezuelan president added that “We must condemn the terrorist acts besieging the Syrian people that aren’t launched by the Syrian government but rather from infiltrated terrorist groups.”

Chavez also accused the West of funding the insurgents, saying the West has sent these terrorists to destabilize the Syrian government.

“We recognize the Syrian government. Who do they want us to recognize: those terrorists who are killing people, destroying cities, bombing? It is sad to know and to have evidence that European governments recognize the terrorists and meet with terrorists and fund them and give them money and weapons,” he said.

The Venezuelan leader’s remarks come as US President Barack Obama has reportedly signed a secret order, authorizing more support for insurgents fighting against Bashar al-Assad’s government.

The decree broadly permits the CIA and other US agencies to aid insurgents in Syria.

The order, approved earlier this year and known as an intelligence “finding,” marks Washington’s growing support for armed terrorists in Syria.

A US government source, however, confirmed that under provisions of the presidential finding, Washington is collaborating with a secret command center operated by Turkey and its allies.

Turkey has established a base near the Syrian border to facilitate military training and transfer of military and communications means to Syrian insurgents.

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