Muallem: Arabs Seeking Internationalization after Closing All Solution Windows
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Monday hit out at the Arab League for the treatment it has meted out to Damascus, accusing it of ignoring the presence of "terrorists" in the country and prematurely imposing economic sanctions.
Muallem made the accusation at a news conference at which gruesome video footage was shown of what was described as a "mass grave of security force martyrs" that the authorities had discovered.
"I apologize for these horrific images, but at the same time I offer them to the Arab League ministerial committee members who still continue to refuse the presence of these armed groups," said Muallem.
"The Arabs don't want to admit the presence in Syria of groups of armed terrorists who are committing these crimes, abductions and attacks on public places."
He told reporters that his government had opened all windows in talks with the Arab League to end bloodshed in his country, but said that "they have closed all these windows."
The minister also accused the Cairo-based bloc of pushing ahead with a decision to impose economic sanctions on Syria over its crackdown on anti-regime protests despite failing to agree on the dispatch of observers.
Muallem called for dialogue to bring about national reconciliation, saying that Syria was ready to accept Russia, its traditional ally, as a mediator to end the crisis.
"The Arab League's position is clear: They want a dialogue in Cairo, a national unity government ... and this is rejected.
"But a real dialogue must lead to national reconciliation. If Russia wishes, we welcome it. We think that a dialogue is a solution to the crisis."
His comments came as tens of thousands of supporters of President Bashar al-Assad took to the streets to protest a day after the Arab League slapped economic sanctions on Syria over his regime's refusal to halt the crackdown and allow observers into the country.
And Muallem said that Damascus had already taken steps to counter the punitive measures.
"I reassure you that we have withdrawn 95 or 96 percent of Syrian assets (from Arab countries)," Muallem told reporters. "We must protect the interests of our people."
The Arab League on Sunday voted sweeping sanctions against Damascus to punish the regime for failing to halt its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests -- the first time the bloc enforces sanctions of this magnitude on one of its members.
The sanctions include an immediate ban on transactions with the Syrian government and central bank and a freeze on Syrian government assets in Arab countries.
The Arab bloc also banned Syrian officials from visiting any Arab country and called for a suspension of all flights from Syria to Arab countries to be implemented on a date that will be fixed at a meeting next week.
28 November 2011, 17:11
05
A bit too late Mr. Muallem. I believe that the train had left the station...
You might have some credibility in what you said today, but the problem is no body trusts you, your government, and your regime anymore. One issue that you missed to mention aside from acusing the Arab League not to acknowledge the existance of armed terrorists in Syria, is the fact of the regime not acknowledging the cause of this revolution - of people demanding freedom and better life.
28 November 2011, 19:26
07
When he speaks it sounds like Micheal Aoun, What a bunch of liars.
28 November 2011, 20:06
07
The Syrian regime is in complete control of the media in Syria and yet it could not find any new footage so they had to use archive footage from 2008 in Lebanon claiming it's Syria 2011. Makes Mouallem look like Aoun minus Photoshop
28 November 2011, 20:37
06
funny how 19 countries out of 22 in the AL are all wrong but syria and lebanon are right...
28 November 2011, 22:31
07
Al Mouallem still lives in an age when information was easy to control and realities were easy to distort.
Dictators have a hard time nowadays because the truth is burning through any cover they put over it!
Say good bye or you will be paying soon for your master's crimes.
28 November 2011, 23:11
20
Yousef...you Americans are very ignorant about Syria and the middle east. The Syrian people were always a lot more informed than the ignorant Americans. Under government control, the Syrians listened to the radio to hear news from Jordan, NATO Turkey, the anti_Syrian Iraqi regime, Lebanon, hear the Syrian radio stations to know what the government stand is, and listen to Israeli radio to hear what the enemy is saying. In America. you only hear mainstream news media that ALL pander to the Israeli lobby. We in the middle east are a lot more informed and hear news that represent all sides, not just the Israeli lobby. You Americans have nothing to teach and all to learn about the middle east.
28 November 2011, 23:17
30
ALL of the Arab governments who voted for this are American (Israeli) puppet dictators who have killed their own people. What a bunch of hypocrites.
28 November 2011, 23:37
03
Why would the glorious Syrian regime use lie and old news real as proof of recent terrorists operations against the regime? I wonder how is the always reliable and accurate Al Manar and the trustworthy or the scholarly Al Akhbar or the divine and saintly Resistance going to explain this, I'll wait.
29 November 2011, 00:59
03
The chance of fleeing is still on the table: IRHAL IRHAL YA BASHAR, when you still able. Read the Best Seller 'Qaddhafi's Memoirs'... with a special focus on the abrupt ending. Arab winters are undesirable, and may you not see Spring.
29 November 2011, 06:31
03
Mass graves for security forces? What a joke that a military of tens of thousands supposedly is getting massacred by disorganized civilians. So which is it? Is the great syrian military in control or are they getting beaten up? Also if there is nothing to hide then let the world media in and let Arab peacekeepers or UN ones in.
29 November 2011, 14:45
00
john from Koura
learn to love only lebanon, greater syria is a myth
