Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Muallem reaffirmed that the US presence in Syrian is illegal that they must leave.
In an interview with Russia Today, Muallem said that the Americans in the al-Tanf area are attracting remnants of the Islamic State and are rehabilitating them in order to send them back to fight the Syrian Arab Army, because they want to prolong the crisis in Syria for the benefit of Israel.
The Minister pointed out that Syrian-Iranian relations are non-negotiable.
“The presence of Iranian advisers in Syria is legitimate and came at the request of the Syrian state, contrary to the US presence, which is an aggression against Syria, which must leave,” Muallem said.
Commenting on the Idleb agreement, Muallem said that the agreement is a positive step to extending the control of the Syrian state over all of its territory, indicating that the agreement provides the conditions for a peaceful solution in Idleb through reconciliation, whose effectiveness has been demonstrated in many Syrian areas.
He stressed that the legitimate state has the right to use other means to reestablish sovereignty over its territory.
“When you travel from one city to another and then you want to return, you use the same road,” he said, noting that terrorists in Idleb had come across from Turkey and are leaving on the same road.
“The current danger, in the eastern region, stems from the illegal American presence, which is providing military support to the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in that region. The US presence is also hampering efforts for dialogue between the SDF and the Syrian state. Some members of the SDF unjustifiably attacked Syrian soldiers, and they must pay the price,” Muallem stated.
“Damascus is committed to the platforms of Astana and Sochi and to the efforts of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran to find an appropriate solution that will serve the Syrian people in the political process,” said the Minister.
He noted that the work of UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura “is not neutral”.
“If he were neutral, we would find ourselves before an active constitutional committee, and the reason for that is the existence of a mini-international group that has a negative impact on the Envoy’s work,” Muallem added.
He stressed that this mini-group consists of countries that were and still are part of the conspiracy against Syria, namely the US, Britain and France
“All the weapons held by terrorists in many Syrian areas are made in these countries,” the Minister said.
He also renewed the call for the displaced Syrians to return to their homeland.
“We welcome and call upon every displaced Syrian abroad to return to their homeland. We will ensure a decent life, security and a future, for them to contribute to the reconstruction of their country,” the Minister said.
He expressed regret that the West still prevents Syrians from returning to their homeland due to its policies of intimidation, which are baseless, describing the current international atmosphere around the situation in Syria as positive.
“The atmosphere is positive on the Arab and international arenas due to the recent field developments in Syria,” the Minister said.
The Minister affirmed that the S-300 system, which Russia announced that it will provide to Syria, is a defensive system aimed at protecting Syrian airspace from any external aggression and it is a factor that will enhance security and stability.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
