Makdesi: Syria would do it all to the success of Ibrahimi’s mission

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Dr. Jihad Makdesi said that the reference points of the mission of UN Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Ibrahimi are the UN six-point plan and the Genève declaration, but any other point can be discussed in a manner that suits Syria and serves its stability since Syria’s interest lies in the success of Ibrahimi’s mission.

Makdessi said that the road to ending the crisis is well-known, and that it involves the cessation of violence by all sides and launching a political process led by Syrians.

He pointed out that the lack of an international accord is the cause of any mission’s failure.

He said that western countries cannot play the role of fireman and express concern over Syrians on one side while they continue to work with neighboring countries to smuggle weapons and harbor, train and send terrorists into Syria.

Makdesi voiced cautious optimism over Ibrahimi’s mission, affirming that the government will provide him with all he needs to ensure success.

He added that this requires having Ibrahimi visit the countries that harbor, train and fund militants and request them to cease these actions, in addition to having him request from the opposition to enter dialogue without preconditions.

“Some countries which don’t want Syria’s good nor ending the crisis in it are working to lay landmines on the path of Ibrahimi by trying to change his references without the Security Council or the United Nations,” he said, noting that Russia reemphasized the Geneva declaration to block off these countries.

Makdesi said that the liaison office which the UN will establish to help Ibrahimi is logistic in nature and has various divisions and a staff of 40 according to UN evaluations, and that its location and requirements are available.

He pointed out that the role of the Arab League in its current composition cannot be positive, with experience showing its role to be negative since it was the one to withdraw the Arab observer mission when that mission talked about armed foreign terrorist groups, and since the League was the one to make the crisis an international issue and went to the Security Council without justification.

Makdesi went on to clarify that there has never been an Egyptian initiative; rather there was talk and intent, but those were blown away by the speech made by Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi at NAM Summit in Tehran, because the basis on any initiative’s success is not taking sides, while Mursi picked a side and hijacked a forum to interfere in Syria’s affairs.

The Spokesman affirmed that Syria opened its doors to international aid and is prepared to cooperate with international organizations that wish to provide aid without attaching this aid to political agendas.

“With all due respect to the Red Cross which is undertaking a great effort, but in the end it’s a front and a passage for donor countries… which asked its head about how much aid the Gulf countries presented, and he answered that they didn’t present anything,” he added.

Makdesi affirmed that any attempt to impose any sort of blockade over any part of Syria’s territory is a violation of Syrian sovereignty that requires defending it, stressing that the Syrian Arab Army is prepared to do this, but he added that this issue isn’t on the table and is rejected internationally.

“We in Syria are in a state of self-defense, not a state of attack, and we’re waging street warfare with militants and our battle is a battle of steadfastness until a serious international will to help materializes… the word ‘resolution’ means managing to convince those who bear arms to relinquish them because that road will not lead anywhere,” he concluded.