Syria is backing the political process in Iraq: al-Muallem
Syria-Iraq, Politics, 7/22/2005

Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Walid al- Muallem said yesterday that Syria is boosting the political process in Iraq which she considers as her genuine interest because this would lead to implement UN Security Council resolution 1546 that calls to reschedule the pullout of multinational forces from there.

"Syria has a genuine interest in establishing security and stability in Iraq and keeping its land and people independence and united, in addition to stopping the bloodshed the Iraqi sisterly people is suffering from," al- Muallem told ambassadors accredited to Syria when he summoned them.

Deputy Foreign Minister rejected accusations directed to neighboring countries about the situation in Iraq, saying that directing accusations and blaming neighboring countries "is not the remedy for the security situation in Iraq..We believe that dealing with the situation can be made by widening the framework of the political process to include various spectrums of the Iraqi people sections, to allow everyone to take part in building their country's future," al- Muallem said.

He underlined that, "Syria has implemented all what is required of her according to two security agreements with the Iraqi side, but the other party did not implement what has been agreed upon and carried on accusing Syria via the media without giving any proves. Iraq also held Syria responsibility over the two border sides and what is happening in Iraq."

Al-Muallem noted that Syria has taken procedures to prevent infiltrations via the Syrian-Iraqi border by building concrete and dusty barriers along with barbwires as well Syria boosted police stations in border areas together with launching patrols and installing light network of 1800 meters long starting from the village of Simalika heading to the North near the Syrian- Iraqi and Turkish border triangle.

He noted that what the border forces are exposed to of attacks was not because of the infiltrators and smugglers only, "but also by the Iraqi and US forces and the border clashes have reached to about 100 armed events some of them were by the US troops who fired in an indiscriminate manner on those who were near the dusty barrier because they lost their cool."

Al-Muallem clarified that the Syrian efforts were "fruitful," in controlling the border with Iraq and stopping 1240 fanatics from various nationalities who were handed to their countries via embassies and security channels, noting there were still 69 fanatics arrested and that they were from different nationalities and saying that investigations were made against more than 4000 Syrians who left or tried to leave to Iraq to fight there.

Deputy Foreign Minister clarified that security apparatus work in pursuing fanatics and terrorists "have included all the Syrian territories," and announced that what the fanatics and terrorists were planning to do was foiled, noting that the US did not respond to Syria's demand in 2004 to aid in allowing night control technical means (night vision equipment such as night goggles etc.) and turned the request to Britain who promised to meet it but did not keep that promise up till now.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Jazeera: Al-Muallem stresses Syria's keenness on Iraq Security   (7/20/2005)
  Syria supports Iraq's security, sovereignty, stability   (7/20/2005)
  Syria calls Iraq for real assessment of border control efforts   (7/19/2005)

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