Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem on Tuesday said "The Middle East has witnessed several wars and conflicts, and on its land different policies, trends and interests met together sometimes and contradicted in others, and due to its geographical location at the center of our world, it affects and get affected too much by the neighboring countries in Asia, Europe and Africa...Syria, which is located at the center of the Middle East, has interacted and adapted with the tensions, policies and events in the region", SANA reported.
Delivering Syria's word during the 65th United Nations General Assembly's meeting, Minister al-Moallem stressed that Syria's vision on dealing with foreign affairs and international relations takes into consideration the priority of maintaining the Syrian and the Arab interests, and that is why Syria opens the door wide for the deep dialogue which aims at solving any disagreement with other sides to reach a meeting point that we can build on.
" This is what Syria stressed over the years when there were several attempts to impose an embargo on it, and today Syria is trying to stress the same thing in a time when it is playing a key role regarding the security and stability in the Middle East," Minister al-Moallem added.
The civil international relations are based on openness and dialogue, not on the closed-mindedness, isolation, conflict and aggression and this is what we hope to prevail in the world, al-Moallem added.
On the peace process, Minister al-Moallem said that what Syria wants is the just and comprehensive peace based on the resolutions No.338 and No. 242 and the Arab peace initiative, adding that in Israel they talk about peace, at the same time they beat the drums of war, continue the settlement process and the Judaization of Jerusalem...Israel is trying to impose fait accompli with or without the negotiations."
The Minister said that peace needs "honest will" through taking practical stances, not political maneuvers under the umbrella of the desire to make peace, underlining that Syria has the will and the stance to make peace on unchangeable solid basis which is that the occupied Syrian Golan is not a negotiable issue and the acknowledgment of restoring it completely is the basis on which we can build the required arrangements for peace.
Syria is ready to resume peace negotiations through the Turkish mediator based on the aforementioned basis, he added.
He expressed Syria's satisfaction over the report of the Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Committee regarding the Israeli aggression on the freedom flotilla bound for Gaza in a humanitarian mission, pointing out that Syria is looking forward to what will be issued by the International Investigation Committee in this regard, particularly that the Fact-Finding Committee has provided the legal basis and the required facts.
Al-Moallem underlined the importance of compelling Israel to implement the international resolutions which urge it to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and to place its facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
He added that the double standards, particularly in this regard, won't come in line with the requirements of preventing the nuclear proliferation, not only in the Middle East, but in the whole world with the assertion on the right of all countries to possess the nuclear technology for peaceful uses.
With regard to Iraq, the Foreign Minister stressed that Iraq is one of the main concerns of Syria, and the restoration of its complete sovereignty and independence and the maintenance of its Arab and Islamic identity and its territorial integrity are the top priorities in our vision on Iraq's future, and the national unity is the cornerstone in Iraq.
He added that Syria called and is still calling for the complete withdrawal of the foreign forces from Iraq, saying" we consider the withdrawal of some of the American forces from Iraq as a positive step towards achieving Iraq's complete sovereignty and independence, stressing that Iraq's security depends on achieving its national unity based on its Arab and Islamic identity and the contribution of all the spectrums of the Iraqi people to building the present and future of their country."
With regard to making the Middle East a nuclear-free zone, al-Moallem said "Syria's stance is known for all that calls for making the Middle East a nuclear-free zone...In 2003, Syria proposed a draft resolution to the UN Security Council, urging for compelling Israel to implement the international resolutions which urge it to join the NPT and putting its nuclear facilities under the supervision of the IAEA to maintain the security and stability of the region.
On the Sudanese issue, al-Moallem said "Syria is following up the development of the situation in Sudan based on its keenness to achieve its unity, sovereignty, security and stability."
Al-Moallem expressed Syria's appreciation of the efforts exerted by Qatar, the Arab League and the African Union , particularly the efforts exerted by the African Union for solving the conflicts in Sudan and other African regions and for consolidating the role of the African countries in the international system.
The Minister reiterated Syria's strong call for lifting the embargo which has been imposed on Cuba for decades.
On the natural disasters, al-Moallem said there have been many natural disasters this year which constitute the beginning of more dangerous disasters which could threaten the natural life on the earth, and we should deal with this serious issue in away up to the level of the historical responsibility.
He added that the next Cancun Conference should correct the mistakes of Copenhagen Conference and renew the commitment to the principles of Bali Work plan and Kyoto Protocol. Al-Moallem stressed the urgent need to provide more financial aid, particularly to Pakistan which is suffering from tragic damages on a wide scale.