Syria is committed to the firm national stances and just peace: al-Shara, vice president
Syria-Regional, Politics, 12/28/2004

Syria's Vice President and Deputy Chairman of the National Progressive Front, NPF, Mohammad Zoheir Masharqa on Monday renewed Syria's commitment to its national principled stances.

''Syria has been seeking to strengthen Arab solidarity and activate the joint Arab action to fortify the Arab stance against the existing dangers surrounding the Arab region." Masharqa said at opening of the fourth annual meeting of leaderships of branches of the National Progressive Front and politburos.

"Syria is working to get more support for the Arab rights in a way that leads to the achievement of just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the international legitimacy resolutions particularly resolutions 242, 338, land for peace formula, Madrid terms of reference and Beirut Arab Summit resolutions." He added.

Masharqa held Israel responsible for halting the peace process, stressing that it escapes the peace requirements paying no heed to the international resolutions.

"The international powers don't take serious stances towards the necessity of implementing the international legitimacy resolutions when the matter is related to Israel," Masharqa indicated.

He touched upon the aggravated situation in the occupied Palestinian territories as a result of the daily "Israeli brutal practices" asserting the Palestinian people's right to resist the occupation.

Later, Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara said that despite Syria's repeated calls for the resumption of peace negotiations, "peace is still blocked due to the Israeli rejection and intransigence to respond to those calls and to the requirements of the just and comprehensive peace."

During a comprehensive political review to the fourth annual meeting of leaderships of branches of the NPF and politburos, Minister al-Shara added that Rabin's "deposit" is put in the hands of the United States, and canceling it will harm the U.S. credibility as a superpower state and a peace sponsor, asserting that when Syria is committed to the requirements of peace, Israel imposes conditions that are not related to the resumption of negotiations.

On the Iraqi issue, al-Shara reiterated Syria's support to Iraq's territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity, asserting importance of ending occupation.

He also pointed out that elections can't be substituted, asserting that all Iraqi people should participate in the forthcoming elections to be legitimate.

Regarding the situation on the Palestinian arena, Foreign Minister underscored that supporting the Palestinian issue is one of Syria's principles, pointing out that Syria always stresses importance of boosting the Palestinian national unity since it is the guarantee for steadfastness against occupation and for the negotiations based on the international resolutions, the restoration of the occupied lands as well as the establishment of the Palestinian state with Jerusalem its capital.

On the UN Security Council resolution No. 1559, al-Shara distinguished between the resolution issued by the UN Security Council which had no indication to Syria and the original draft resolution that was not issued because it was rejected by the SC members since it harms Syria, saying " Despite that the UN resolution No. 1559 is considered as an intervention in Lebanon's internal affairs, it stresses Lebanon's sovereignty and independence," pointing out to Syria's care for this issue.

" Our relations with Lebanon are based on al-Taif Agreement and other agreements signed between the two brotherly countries... the bad thing, that was mysterious, is that the report presented by the UN Secretary General was not based on the resolution No. 1559 but it was based on the draft resolution which was not issued." Minister al-Shara added that the time of the campaign raised to adopt the resolution in last August, before the idea of expanding the term of Lebanese President Lahoud was proposed in September, means that there were prior intentions to target the distinguished relations between Syria and Lebanon.

"In spite of those intentions, Syria was and still committed to keep best relations with France, and waits for French stances vis-a-vis Lebanon and Syria that remove any doubts regarding those relations," Foreign Minister said.

On the US pressures on Syria, al-Shara said that whenever the US faces problems or difficulties, it practices pressures on a country to hold that country responsible for its failure, adding that pressures on Syria are an indication that Syria is strong, not weak as they allege.

On the Syrian-European partnership Association, Minister al-Shara considered signing the Association as an achievement to Syria and to the modernization and development process it witnesses.

The Foreign Minister added that "national unity is the factor of strength behind the wise and courageous leadership of President Bashar al-Assad who meets the aspirations of our nation in facing different difficulties."

Previous Stories:
  Arab newspaper calls for Peace Process resumption on the Syrian   (12/11/2004)
  Arab League supports syria's call for resumption of peace negotiations   (11/29/2004)
  Al-Assad opens Expatriates Conference: some want to throw the region into a volcano   (10/11/2004)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search