Foreign and Expatriates Ministry Completely Denies Rumors about Syrian Arab Army Using Scud Missiles against Armed Terrorist Groups

A source at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry on Thursday completely denied as untrue rumors about the Syrian Arab Army using Scud Missiles to confront the armed terrorist groups.

The statement came in response to what has been circulated by some instigative sides, particularly Turkey and its partners in conspiring against Syria, with the aim of distorting Syria’s image and position in the international community.

The source added that it is well-known that Scud missiles are strategic long-range missiles and are not used in facing armed terrorist gangs.

It said that the Ministry wanted to reassure that these missile were not used in the confrontations with the armed terrorist groups who were proved to have used advanced weapons lately, which they received from conspiring countries, in their attacks against the innocent citizens, the military forces and the public and private infrastructure.

Foreign and Expatriates Ministry: Syria Concerned Over US Postponement of Nuclear-free Middle East Conference

Syria expresses concern over the US postponement of the conference on nuclear-free Middle East and creating a zone free of weapons of mass destruction which was due to take place in December 2012 in Finland, an official source at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said.

The source added that the postponement is a clear breach of the commitment of the conference’s sponsors according to the final document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference.

The source said that the US is not entitled to decide unilaterally to postpone the conference, which exposes the falsity of the US allegations and its commitment to obligations, adding that it is also a test to the credibility of the international community and its bona fides regarding making the Middle East free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.

The source indicated that Syria considers the US decision a flagrant, unjustified defense of Israel and the threats it poses to security and peace in the region, through providing a cover for Israel’s possession of WMDs.

”The Syrian government rejects the pretexts for not holding the conference on schedule and the US disregard for the will of the parties to the NPT, which will bring about negative consequences for the treaty, and will seriously endanger the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament,” the source added.

The source added that Syria has agreed to participate in the conference and backed efforts for its organization as did all regional countries, except Israel, which worked to thwart organizing the conference, aided by its allies, giving made-up pretexts that have nothing to do with the topic of the conference.

The source concluded that the Syrian government calls upon the international community to unmask the Israeli policies hindering all international efforts to free the Middle East of WMDs and pressure it to join the NPT and eliminate its nuclear arsenal, thus subjecting all its nuclear activities to the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.