‘UN must observe impartiality, Syrians’ demands’

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani says impartiality and efforts to meet Syrians’ demands must be the primary duties of the United Nations.

During a meeting with UN-Arab League Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi in Tehran on Sunday, Shamkhani stressed the need for inclusion of Syrians’ demands in any political initiative meant to end the ongoing conflict in the Arab country.

He also asked for effective use of potentials in order to establish sustainable peace and security in Syria, lamenting the manipulation of the UN by some destabilizing countries.

“The principled position of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has always been underscored, is support for and active cooperation with plans aimed at ending bloodshed and responding to the demands of the Syrian people,” the senior Iranian official pointed out.

Shamkhani censured the West’s double standards in dealing with terrorism, underlining the need for non-interference in Syria’s internal affairs.

He also warned against the flow of weapons to foreign-sponsored militant groups operating inside Syria, calling on the UN Security Council to deal with the trend.

Brahimi, for his part, expressed regret over the failure of international efforts to end the violence in Syria, stating that effective mechanisms meant to restore calm and stability in Syria require further attempts and closer cooperation among influential countries.

The top UN official also pointed to Iran’s significant role in the region, calling for Iran’s assistance to the world body to resolve the Syrian conflict through a political process and stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria.

Syria has been the scene of deadly violence since March 2011. The Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — have been supporting the militants operating inside Syria.