Syria’s Foreign Minister says Turkey continues to support terrorists

Syria’s Foreign Minister says Turkey continues to support terrorists
September 29, 2019, 7:27 am

Syrian FM Walid al-Moualem addresses the 74th session of the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York on September 28, 2019. (AP)

Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday that Turkey has failed to fulfill its commitments under a number of agreements and instead has provided terrorists with all forms of support.

Al-Moualem said that the Syrian government has engaged in the political initiatives aimed at solving the situation in Idlib, and welcomed the memorandum creating the de-escalation zones and the Sochi Agreement on Idlib.

“The Turkish regime has failed to fulfill its commitments under these agreements. Instead, it has provided terrorists with all forms of support, including weapons that are more sophisticated,” said al-Moualem.

He added that “Al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front has taken control of 90% of Idlib, and the Turkish observation points established inside Syria have been used to support these terrorists,” according to his statement which was carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

Syria has been at war since the 2011 revolution which demanded the fall of the regime and its now 19-years-ruler Bashar al-Assad, whose father, Hafez al-Assad, ruled Syria for 30 years before him.

The 2011 peaceful protests were brutally crushed by the government in the name of “fighting terrorism”. The opposition was later armed and gained foreign support.

The war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions.

Al-Moallem told the UNGA that “The United States and Turkey maintain an illegal military presence in northern Syria.”

“Any foreign forces operating in our territories without our authorization are occupying forces and should withdraw immediately,” said the Syrian foreign minister.

Syria’s plight remains one of the world body’s thorniest issues.

But now that most of the country has returned to government control, Syrians worry the world has accepted the idea of President Bashar al-Assad ruling them, according to The Associated Press.

Only the opposition-held bastion of Idlib in the northwest, and the oil-rich northeast, held by US-backed Kurdish groups, elude al-Assad’s grasp.

Earlier this week, the UN secretary-general announced that a long-awaited committee that would draft a new Syrian constitution has been formed.

The UN hopes that will put the war-ravaged country on track for a political solution.

Agencies

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