Updated-Al-Moallem: Russian airstrikes were being prepared for months
5 October، 2015
http://sana.sy/en/?p=56889

Beirut, SANA – Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid
al-Moallem said that the Russian airstrikes in Syria were being prepared for
months, and that they cannot be linked to the present time.

In a preview of an interview given to al-Mayadeen TV due to be broadcast in
full later, al-Moallem said that Russia worked hard to establish an
information center in Iraq that involves Russia, Iraq, Syria, and Iran,
asserting that this center will serve an important role in exchanging
information.

“Without a doubt, Russia will win this race. I have no doubt at all, and the
reason behind that is practical and simple: it’s because Russia is
coordinating with the Syrian Arab Army, which is the only force in Syria
that is confronting terrorism,” he said.

Al-Moallem went on to say that when military action has coordination on the
ground and in the sky, the operations will produce results, noting that the
United States on the other hand doesn’t coordinate with Syria, which is why
after 9,000 airstrikes against ISIS and more than a year later, the
terrorist organization became stronger and more widespread.

Answering a question about making the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry
waits until al-Moallem’s meeting with Russian counterpart was over,
al-Moallem said Kerry came to interrupt not to meet, adding “Of course I
will not meet Kerry without a prior appointment and after the Syrian
leadership agrees on holding such meeting.”

Al-Moallem said the Syrians are comfortable for the efforts of Russia’s head
of state and the Russian military efforts in Syria, highlighting that the
countries which have been conspiring on Syria were shocked when the Russian
sorties and air raids in Syrian had started.

He underlined that Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council,
is playing its role in accordance with the UN charter and Moscow respects
the sovereignty and independence of all countries.

The Syrian Minister said the UN Security Council issued 3 resolutions on
Syria under the 7th chapter and still there were no results on the ground,
adding that 70% of terrorism in Syria could have been stopped immediately if
the neighboring countries had adhered to these resolutions.

“Like many of the world’s countries, we have started to lose faith in the
UNSC and we would rather rely on our understandings with the Russian
Federation. The US and the U.S.-led coalition were not legal and their
coalition violated the Syrian sovereignty and the UN Charter and still it
was fruitless and caused only more spread of the ISIS,” al-Moallem said,
highlighting that the UNSC resolution included the ISIS, Jabhet al-Nusra and
all terrorist groups, which are enlisted as terrorist by the UN itself.

On the U.S. stances over the Russian air raids, al-Moallem stressed that the
countries which are worried of these raids are the very same ones that have
been conspiring on the Syrian people for the past five years; the US, the
UK, France, Turkey, KSA and Qatar.

“How can these countries decide whether President al-Assad should stay or
step aside for example, I told Kerry that the Syrians are the only side to
decide who to lead and what the future of Syria is, all these countries
should acknowledge that President al-Assad is the legitimate President of
the Syrian Arab republic and the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Army and
Armed Forces according to the vast majority of the Syrian people,”
al-Moallem underscored, adding that Israel is the sole benefiter of the
so-called “the Arab Spring” because it is targeting the key armies in the
region; the Syrian, Egyptian and Iraqi armies.

Al-Moallem said the Israeli role in the southern region in Syria is known
for all and Israel is replicating the acts it had perpetrated in Lebanon and
as it is communicating with terrorist organizations and providing them with
all their needs, from weapons to logistic help to admitting injured
terrorists in its hospitals and above all it has been attacking Syrian
military posts after every foiled terrorist attack with the aim of raising
the morale of the terrorists.

He reiterated that Turkey has no interests in fighting the ISIS for
ideological reasons and is supporting Jabhet al-Nusra and other terrorist
organizations for the same reason.

On the possibility of an Iraqi request asking Russia to help Baghdad in
fighting terrorism, al-Moallem said the case is similar in Syria and Iraq
and if Iraq made such request then Russia will for sure extend help, adding
that fighting terrorism in Syria and Iraq is like the “communicating
vessels” and that the ISIS will benefit from any lack of coordination
between the two countries.

He expressed his faith in achieving victory because the Syrian army is still
firm in face of a multi-frontier war against terrorist organizations backed
by many countries, and still the army is ready to sacrifice and has the
support of almost all the Syrian people, adding that the conspirators are
feeling that things are not moving in their favor and that is why they
started their hysteric statements and media escalation.

M. Nassr/ Hazem Sabbagh