Syria’s Foreign Relations Minister opens Geneva2
Excerpt, editing by Carolyn Bennett
“Countries that celebrate democracy, freedom and human
rights regrettably only choose to speak the language of blood, war, colonialism
and hegemony. Democracy is imposed with fire, freedom with warplanes and human
rights by human killing, because they have become accustomed to the world doing
their bidding: if they want something, it will happen; if they don’t, it
won’t.
“They have heedlessly forgotten that the perpetrators who
blew themselves up in New York follow the same doctrine and come from the same
source as those blowing themselves up in Syria.
They have heedlessly forgotten that the terrorist that was in America
yesterday is in Syria today, and who knows where he will be tomorrow. What is certain, however, is that he will not
stop here. Afghanistan is an ideal
lesson for anyone who wants to learn – anyone!
“Unfortunately, most do not want to learn. Neither America
nor some of the ‘civilized’ western countries that follow its lead, starting
from the city of lights to the kingdom over which “the sun never set,’ in the
past; despite the fact that they have all felt the bitter taste of terrorism in
the past.”
Leading his country’s delegation, Syrian Deputy Premier,
Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem was speaking yesterday
morning at the opening session of the international conference on Syria,
Geneva2, at Montreux, Switzerland. Following is more of what he said in a
transcript reprinted at Global Research-Ca
“Never have I been in a more difficult position. My
delegation and I carry the weight of three years of hardship endured by my
fellow countrymen – the blood of our martyrs, the tears of our bereaved, the
anguish of families waiting for news of a loved one – kidnapped or missing;
the cries of our children whose
tender fingers were the targets of mortar shelling into their classrooms; the
hopes of an entire generation destroyed before their very eyes; the courage of
mothers and fathers who have sent all their sons to defend our country; the
heartbreak of families whose homes have been destroyed and are now displaced or
refugees.
“My delegation and I also carry the hope of a nation for the
years to come –
the right of every child to safely
go to school again, the right of women to leave their homes without fear of
being kidnapped, killed or raped; the dream of our youth to fulfill their vast
potential; the return of security so that every man can leave his family safe
in the knowledge that he will return.
Moment of truth
“…The truth (is) that many have systematically tried to bury
in a series of campaigns of misinformation, deception and fabrication leading
to killing and terror
Truth that refuses to be buried
Truth (that is) clear for all to see – the delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic representing the Syrian people, the government, the state, the Army and the President – Bashar al-Assad.
Foreign aggression
“It is regrettable … that seated amongst us today in this
room are representatives of countries that have the blood of Syrians on their
hands:
Countries that have exported
terrorism along with clemency for the perpetrators, as if it was their God
given right to determine who will go to heaven and who will go to hell.
Countries that have prevented
believers from visiting holy places of worship whilst abetting, financing and
supporting terrorists.
Countries that gave themselves the
authority to grant and deny legitimacy to others as they saw fit, never looking
at their own archaic glasshouses before throwing stones at acclaimed fortified
towers.
Countries that shamelessly lecture
us in democracy, in development and in progress whilst drowning in their own
ignorance and medieval norms.
Countries that have become
accustomed to being entirely owned by kings and princes who have the sole right
to distribute their national wealth granting their associates whilst denying
those who fall out of favor.
“They lectured Syria – a distinguished, virtuous, sovereign state. They lectured her on honor whilst they themselves were immersed in the mud of enslavement, infanticide and other medieval practices. After all their efforts and subsequent failures, their masks fell from their quivering faces, to reveal their perverse ambitions— a desire to destabilize and destroy Syria by exporting their national product: terrorism. They used their petrodollars to buy weapons, recruit mercenaries and saturate airtime covering up their mindless brutality with lies under the guise of the so-called ‘Syrian revolution that will fulfill the aspirations of the Syrian people.’…
“… [W]ake up to the undeniable reality that the West is
supporting some Arab countries to supply lethal weapons to al-Qaeda. The West publically claims to be fighting
terrorism, whilst in fact it is covertly nourishing it. Anyone who cannot see this truth is either
ignorantly blind or willfully so in order to finish what they have begun.…”
Sovereignty: exclusive rights, duty
“We have come to stop terrorism as other countries that have
experienced its bitter taste have done, whilst affirming loudly and consistently
that a dialogue between Syrians is the only solution. But as with other
countries that have been struck by terrorism, we have a constitutional duty to
defend our citizens and we shall continue to strike terrorism that attacks
Syrians regardless of their political affiliations.
We have come to hold those accountable; for
as long as particular countries continue to support terrorism, this conference
will bear no fruit. Political pluralism
and terrorism cannot coexist in the same landscape. Politics can only prosper by fighting
terrorism; it cannot grow in its shadow.
We are here as representatives of the Syrian people and the
state; but let it be clear to all, – and experience is the best proof – that
nobody has the authority to grant or withdraw legitimacy from a president, a
government, a constitution, a law or anything else in Syria except Syrians
themselves; this is their constitutional right and duty.”
Nations together
“Today, in this gathering of Arab and Western powers, we are
presented with a simple choice:
we can choose to fight terrorism
and extremism together and to start a new political process, or you can
continue to support terrorism in Syria.
Let us reject and isolate the black
hands and the false faces, which publicly smile but covertly feed terrorist
ideology, striking Syria today, but ultimately spreading to infect us all. This is the moment of truth and destiny; let
us rise to the challenge.
Syrian Deputy Premier, Foreign and Expatriates Minister
Walid al-Moallem spoke, he declared, “on behalf of the Syrian Arab Republic. SYRIAN
– steeped in history for seven thousand years; ARAB – proud of its steadfast
pan-Arab heritage despite the deliberate acts of aggression of supposed
brotherly Arabs; REPUBLIC – a civil state that some, sitting in this room, have
tried to return to medieval times.”
Sources and notes
“Geneva II – Syrian Foreign Minister: ‘The West Publicly
Claims to Be Fighting Terrorism, Whilst It Is Covertly Nourishing It’” by
Global Research News, Global Research, January 22, 2014. SANA, http://www.globalresearch.ca/geneva-ii-syrian-foreign-minister-the-west-publicly-claims-to-be-fighting-terrorism-whilst-it-is-covertly-nourishing-it/5365833
Global Research other: Region: Middle East and North Africa;
theme: U.S. NATO War Agenda; In-depth Report: SYRIA: NATO’s NEXT WAR?
Syrian Deputy Premier, Foreign and Expatriates Minister
Walid al-Moallem
This week Walid al-Moallem is participating in the Geneva II
Middle East peace conference at Montreux, Switzerland. In an opening speech, the
minister “described the ‘opposition’ in Syria as traitors and terrorists.”
Walid al-Moallem’s career began with the Syrian foreign
ministry and he has served in Syrian missions to Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Spain
and England. His positions have included Ambassador to Romania (1975-1980); head
of the authentication and translation department at the foreign ministry (1980-1984);
head of the private offices department from (1984-1990); Ambassador
to the United States (1990-2000); assistant foreign minister (2000-); deputy
foreign minister (2005-); minister of foreign affairs (February 11, 2006-) involved
with the Lebanese file and Israeli-Syrian negotiations.
During the 2011 Syrian civil war, the minister represented
the Syrian government in relations with other national governments and the
United Nations. In October 2012, after United Nations Secretary General Ban
Ki-Moon urged Syria to show compassion in light of the growing humanitarian
crisis,
Walid al-Moallem “appeared at the United Nations and blamed
the United States, France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar for ‘aid[ing] terror’
and ‘blatant interference’ in Syria’s affairs, mainly by supplying rebel groups
with arms and money and calling for Syrian President Bashar Al Assad to step
down. He also called Western concerns over chemical weapons use ‘a joke’ and a
pretext for an Iraq War-like campaign.” Academic credentials: Cairo University B.A.
in economics (Wikipedia biographical notes)
Montreux, Switzerland (Population, 2007 est., 23,195)
A town comprising three resort communities (Le
Châtelard-Montreux, Les Planches-Montreux, and Veytaux-Montreux; merged 1962)
in Vaud canton of western Switzerland, extending 4 miles (6 km) along the
eastern shore of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman). Its natural setting below mountains
protecting it from northerly and easterly winds has made Montreux the lake’s
most fashionable health resort. Montreux is on railway lines from Geneva and
France to Italy via the Simplon Tunnel and is also a terminus of mountain
railways. (Encyclopedia Britannica
notes)
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