Al-Moallem Calls on UN Officials to Commit to Objectivity in Dealing with Situation in Syria

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jouhina news, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem stressed the importance for the UN officials to be objective and precise in dealing with the situation in Syria and holding the armed terrorist groups responsible for hindering efforts to halt violence in Syria. Meeting the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, and the accompanying delegation on Wednesday, al-Moallem reiterated Syria's commitment to the plan of the UN Special Envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan and its full cooperation with the UN observer mission. Al-Moallem underscored the importance of the international community's support to Annan through obtaining cooperation of regional countries which have influence on the terrorist groups, "those countries which instigate, fund and harbor armed terrorist groups and encourage them to reject political work and not to lay down their arms." He said that Syria today is in a state of self-defense of its sovereignty and territorial unity, adding that at the same time Syria's doors are open to those who want dialogue and the political solution. The meeting dealt with the situation in Syria since the beginning of implementing Annan's six-point plan to date and means of overcoming obstacles hindering the implementation of the plan in light of escalating terrorism in some Syrian areas. Ladsous also met Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Fayssal Mikdad, and discussed with him the results of Annan's recent visit to Syria and the UN mission's tasks, with Mikdad stressing Syria's commitment to protecting the UN observers and making their mission a success. Ladsous: Many Meetings Will Be Held to Discuss Situation in Syria and Help Find Political Solution to Reduce Violence In a press conference held at Dama Rose Hotel, Ladsous said that he will hold many meeting to discuss the situation in Syria which has become a priority in the UN and the Security Council, adding that they will work to help find a political solution to reduce violence in Syria. Ladsous said that he will evaluate the situation and discuss it with officials both in Syria and at the UN, pointing out that he already held meetings on Wednesday morning with Syrian officials, during which light was shed on the need to reconsider the Security Council resolution to extend the observer mission for 30 days, with him considering that the resolution should be more specific regarding the increasing level of violence and the use of heavy weaponry. He noted that more than half the observers have returned to their countries, and the mission is currently working in small numbers which is all that is currently possible due to the security conditions which are considered delicate in some areas. Ladsous also said that the primary goal of his visit is to present the new leadership of the mission, Gen. Babacar Gaye. In turn, Gen. Gaye said that he noticed during his recent trip to Damascus an increase in violence, which led to the suspension of the observer mission due to the entailing risks, pointing out that the mission has 30 days and 27 hours as of the time of this conference to carry out its task, and that it will take advantage of any opportunity to end suffering, which is the mission's primary goal.