Syrian FM accuses some UN members of supporting terrorism

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem accused some UN Security Council members Monday, Oct 1, of supporting "terrorism" in a speech colored by conspiratorial undertones that clearly aimed at the United States and its allies that support the Syrian opposition, The Associated Press reports.

Addressing the UN General Assembly's annual gathering of world leaders, al-Moallem said that efforts by Syria and the world to end the 18-month war will fail unless Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Libya and others stop arming and financing the opposition and instead "encourage dialogue and renounce violence."

Al-Moallem argued that the Assad regime is confronting a myriad of conspiracies by internal and external forces determined to end its 40-year rule and accused forces as diverse as the media and international organizations of attempting to destabilize the country.

"This terrorism, which is externally supported, is accompanied by unprecedented media provocation based on igniting religious extremism sponsored by well-known states in the region," he said, adding those states "facilitate the flow of arms, money and fighters through the borders of some neighboring countries."

These forces were "fabricating a refugee crisis," he said, and "inciting armed groups to intimidate Syrian civilians in border areas and forcing them to flee" to neighboring countries like Turkey, which says it is hosting nearly 100,000 Syrian refugees.

Al-Moallem called for a political solution and Syrian-led dialogue to agree on a roadmap to "a more pluralistic and democratic Syria." He invited the opposition to "work together to stop the shedding of Syrian blood."

Al-Moallem said some regional and international players are seeking to escalate the conflict and create "a state of instability to ensure the need for foreign interference." He insisted that several countries are using the U.N. to meddle in internal Syrian affairs by calling on Assad to step down.

"This is a blatant interference in the domestic affairs of Syria, and the unity of its people and its sovereignty," he said.

Al-Moallem urged the General Assembly's 192 other members to exert pressure to end the violence.