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Электронное приложение к журналу «
Международная жизнь
»
Author : Riad Haddad
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Russian Federa-
tion
The Syrian leadership has been calling for a po-
litical settlement of the crisis through a compre-
hensive national dialogue with the participation
of all representatives of Syrian society. We are
continuing to work in this direction.
We proclaimed the same approach at the
Geneva Conference, and the Syrian delegation,
the only representative of the Syrian people, was
sincere and serious in the course of the negoti-
ations. At the same time, the presentation by
Secretary of State John Kerry at the opening of
the Geneva-2 Conference was provocative and
destabilizing. In response to that, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem stated that no one has
the right to decide the fate of the Syrian people except the Syrians themselves, reminding Kerry
and his allies about the UN Charter and the principles of international law prohibiting interfer-
ence in the affairs of independent states.
As far as Syria's chemical disarmament is concerned, the country has acceded to the Organization
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on the Russian-U.S. initiative in order to get
rid of its chemical stockpiles. It is essential to note that Syria is facilitating the OPCW's work.
However, armed groups and those standing behind them are trying to prevent the implementa-
tion of the plan.
The Syrian government is providing places in shelters to all citizens who had to leave their homes
as a result of criminal actions by armed groups, supplying them with food, clothes and all the
necessities.
The Syrian government is using all available options to get into contact with the refugees; in par-
ticular, a commission has been set up to provide assistance, but neighboring states have refused
Syrian officials entry to their territory. There are reports that, for example, in Turkey refugee
camps have been converted into facilities for killers and the training of terrorist armed groups
to be sent to Syria to fight.
It is important to note that the Syrian government has always urged its citizens to return to their
motherland, promising to provide them with the necessary assistance. But sadly, neighboring
states are forbidding Syrian refugees to leave their camps, which have in effect turned into de-
tention facilities.
Syria is grateful to Russia for the provision of humanitarian aid. I can say with confidence that
Russia's sincere and consistent position has restored balance to international relations and gives
nations hope for an end to the era of unipolarity and American hegemony in world politics. It
has given hope for the establishment of a new world order based on international law and the
UN Charter.
Russia and Syria: A Special Historical Relationship