Syrian VP in South Africa: International community should boycott Israel
Syrian vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam delivered his country's speech before the 12th Non- Aligned Movement summit, currently being held in Durban, South Africa.
After he reviewed the state of concern, fears and caution arising from major economic obstacles as a result of "international imbalance", Khaddam stressed that the absence of balance and the one-pole dominance has increased spots of tension in the world.
Talking about globalization, Khaddam spoke of the developments of armed violence and state-run terrorism stressing the need to distinguish between resisting aggression and terrorism.
Concerning the situation in the Middle East, Khaddam noted the situation in this area is very tense and complicated as a result of Israel's refusal to abide by the Madrid peace process terms of reference.
He added that the "Israelis have to know that power cannot achieve peace for anyone." He added that the concept of power is a relative matter and not a fixed one and that peace cannot survive with the occupation of lands and denouncing legitimate rights.
Khaddam said the way to achieve security and stability is through peace, a peace that provides for Israel's withdrawal from all Arab territories occupied in 1967 and south Lebanon and for the recognition of the national rights of the Palestinian people.
The Syrian Vice- President asserted that Israel's refusal to resume negotiations from the point at which they broke off and its a provocative measure in building more settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and in Judaizing Jerusalem have placed the region before a grave and complex situation. Such Israeli positions created a situation of adverse consequences on security, peace and stability of the world as a whole, Khaddam added.
He went on that the US military and economic aid and political coverage play a key element in increasing Israeli intransigence. "It has become evident that the international community has to take practical steps for boycotting Israel, the same as it did with other racist regimes in Africa," Khaddam said.