Powel increase American threats: Syria develops mass destruction weapons
Syria-USA, Politics, 4/4/2003

The US Secretary Of State Colin Powell yesterday accused both Syria and Iran of developing mass destruction weapons and of supporting "terrorism." However, he stressed that the US does not seek a new war in the region.

Meantime Damascus announced it is determinant to support the Iraqi people.

In an interview with the German TV, Powell said that Washington has to speak when it has the evidence about countries such as Iran, Syria and North Korea, that do not pay attention to international agreements on armament or supporting terrorism.

He added "is it wrong to refer to countries like Syria and Iran and say we know you are developing mass destruction weapons.. everyone knows that they support terrorist activities and making the world know about that is enough." On the other hand, the director of the foreign media department at the Syrian foreign ministry Butheina Shabaan renewed yesterday affirmation of the Syrian option to stand by the Iraqi people.

In a press conference she held in Damascus yesterday, Shabaan noted the importance of giving attention to what is happening to the Iraqi people and the Syrian position which is based on supporting the Iraqi people.

She considered that targeting the Iraqi civilians in their "houses and markets" is no different from what had happened on September 11. She questioned "should we stand against killing American civilians and not do that for Iraqi civilians? We stand against killing civilians in every part of the world. Should there is a political problem between the US and the Iraqi government it should be solved without having the Iraqi people paying the price."

She also questioned "Why targeting the American military men in Iraq is considered terrorism and targeting civilians in Iraq is not, and targeting civilians in Palestine is not also terrorism?"

Replying to a question on that if statements made by Powell and US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld constitute a military threat against Syria, Shabaan said that Syria does not view the matter as a "military threat," rather statements made as response to the disordered inclination of the war, which does not comply with what the Americans had talked about before launching the war against Iraq.

Replying to another question on the position of the Arab League concerning the events taking place and if the AL is ready to deal with the "post Saddam Phase," Shabaan refused that principle, noting that the Syrian government is now dealing with the idea of "halting the war because as far as the war is ongoing, the more Iraqis, British and Americans are killed."

Concerning Syrian- American relations, Shabaan said that "Syria has ever sought but good relations with the US and will continue to do so. Syria sees there are no contradiction in the interests between the US and Syria in the region. We do believe that this aggression now taking place against Iraq is not in the interests of the American people for the long run."

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad's interview with Austrian Standard daily on regional issues, US aggression on Iraq   (4/3/2003)
  Arab press and the American threats against Syria   (4/2/2003)
  Arab League denies American allegations against Syria   (3/31/2003)

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