At U.N., Damascus Closes the Door on Peace Talks

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Syria will not begin talks to end the three-and-a-half-year war while Islamist militants are rampaging through the country, the foreign minister told the United Nations on Monday.

"We cannot start any political solution while terrorism is still rampant in Syria," Foreign Minister Walid Muallem told the U.N. General Assembly.

The statement killed off prospects for a resumption of peace talks in the near future despite efforts by U.N. peace envoy Staffan de Mistura, who was appointed in July to re-start negotiations.

Mualem dismissed the Syrian opposition recognized by the West to attend the peace talks, saying it lacked credibility and followed "the orders of its Western masters."

"We are open to a political solution in Syria, with a real opposition ... that does not depend on the outside," he said.

The West is stepping up aid to the moderate Syrian opposition, including military training to be provided by the United States to put more rebel forces on the ground to confront the jihadists. 

Mualem hit out at countries supporting the Islamist groups, in an implicit attack on Gulf countries where the so-called Islamic State (IS) group and al-Nusra Front have drawn financial and military backing.

Combating the Islamist threat "is certainly possible through military strikes," said Mualem.

"But most importantly, to do so through stopping states that arm, support, train, fund and smuggle those terrorist groups," he said.

The U.N. Security Council has adopted a resolution demanding that countries take action to choke off financial support and the flow of foreign fighters.

But Mualem said the resolution was "unimplemented."

He warned that without action to cut off the Islamists from their sponsors a military campaign "will create a whirlpool of which the international community will not exit in decades."

The foreign minister, who is also deputy prime minister, spoke at the U.N. podium as IS fighters closed in on the key Kurdish town of Ain al-Arab in northwest Syria, known as Kobane to the Kurds. 

The U.S.-led coalition carried out a fresh round of airstrikes, nearly a week after it began hitting jihadist positions in Syria, expanding an air campaign launched in August in Iraq.

 

Comments 12
Default-user-icon Maliki massabeh (Guest) 29 September 2014, 19:22

You see Walid I told your boss freeing them from jail was a baaaad idea, it backfired on you and your friends.

Thumb _mowaten_ 29 September 2014, 19:29

Mualem dismissed the Syrian opposition recognized by the West to attend the peace talks, saying it lacked credibility and followed "the orders of its Western masters."

Whether you like the regime or not, this is simply true.

Thumb EagleDawn 29 September 2014, 19:33

says the paid sectarian mouthpiece. By the way, do tell us how you resisted the syrian occupation and broke thru intelligence barriers and then marched in D.T on March 8th and said " Shoukran Souriya"...

Thumb _mowaten_ 30 September 2014, 11:47

if you have nothing to say, then say nothing. it would still be better than making an ... out of yourself.

Thumb EagleDawn 29 September 2014, 19:35

You prefer the Bahraini opposition who does not follow orders from the outside or is not trained by your terror militia, or better still the shia houthis in Yemen or shia iraqis?

Thumb galaxy 29 September 2014, 21:01

no he prefers HA who does not take orders from the Lebanese government and follows iranian agenda. Hypocrite he really is, no credibility!

Thumb _mowaten_ 30 September 2014, 11:49

the bahreini opposition started before the syrian one, and has been repressed very harshly. in the last 3+ years did you see them take arms from foreign country, kill their own countrymen and plants car bombs in marketplaces?

Thumb _mowaten_ 30 September 2014, 11:49

"doesn't exist except as a fabrication of them"
lol, speaking of credibility, you're really a unique specimen

Thumb _mowaten_ 30 September 2014, 11:53

you really seem to have no idea of anything, yet still making cute assumptions and telling stories like we're in hollywood. here's your tip of the day: google "baath" and find out since when it exists.

Thumb nickjames 29 September 2014, 20:30

Texas, it isn't just Iran that's making Assad hold on to power. The Assad family has ruled with an iron fist for almost 45 years. Even if Iran told him to accept the deal he'd probably reject it, unless he is assured of an Alawi state on the coast.

Thumb nickjames 29 September 2014, 20:45

al-Maliki came out of exile after Saddam was overthrown. He was new to the scene. The Assads have been in control of Syria since 1970, they have all their moukhabarat and high army positions controlled by Alawis. al-Maliki had nothing, his army was new and didn't have support from Shi3a. All the Alawis are behind Assad, as well as Christians in Syria.

Thumb _mowaten_ 30 September 2014, 11:52

as well as a huge portion of sunnis. basically almost all syrians are, except the ones in istambul who get regular visits from their nato patrons in their hotel rooms. i really dont want to know what goes down in there.