On Monday, Russia surprised the international community with the announcement that it is to begin the partial withdrawal of its troops from Syria
ADVERTISEMENTOn Monday, Russia surprised the international community with the announcement that it is to begin the partial withdrawal of its troops from Syria.
Moscow’s forces had been providing military support to President Bashar al-Assad’s Damascus-based government.
Moscow says the withdrawal is possible as yesterday’s re-start of the Syrian peace talks in Geneva means Russia has achieved its objectives.
Analysts say Russian intervention has tipped the balance of power in the conflict in favour of the Assad government.
What concrete difference is this likely to make to the peace talks in Geneva, aimed at bringing an end to the conflict, which is five years old this week?
Faiza Garah, euronews:
“Before the peace negotiations the opposition demanded a period of transition and the eventual departure of President Bashar al Assad, will these demands result in the failure of the talks?”
Bachar Al-Jaafari, Head of Syrian government delegation at the Geneva peace talks:
“When you talk about the opposition do they represent all opposition? When the opposition come together and make demands then we can maybe accept them.
All opposition groups do not make these demands. To set conditions before talks destroys the chance of dialogue and ensures the failure of the talks. Secondly, they are using a Western agenda because the requirement that President Assad must leave office comes from outside.”
Faiza Garah:
“You say opposition demands come from outside, can you be more specific, which outside?”
Bachar Al-Jaafari:
“Our country is for Syrians, neither I nor anyone else has the right to give away parts of the country to another country.
There are some who play the Turkish game by demanding an exclusion zone in the north. They made the game, the Turks. The Muslim Brotherhood are doing the same, playing the Qatar game.
We said it, and repeated many times since the beginning of the crisis. We said that there was outside interference in Syrian affairs. The latest events have confirmed our words to all those who doubted them. Today there are reports emanating from the Security Council with unanimous support, ie the UK, the USA and France and those countries that revolve in their sphere.
‘There are other reports from the Security Council, which confirmed that there is trafficking of weapons across the Jordanian and Turkish border. There is also arms smuggling from Libya across Lebanon. Today there is evidence about the problems in Syria confirming, no doubt that there is terrorism that comes from outside, and funded from outside the country, which makes entry into Syria easier.
‘Did we can consider the thousands of Chechens who are fighting in the ranks of Daesh and al Nusra as patriotic opposition and moderate? But they are foreigners! Foreign mercenaries! Dirty dollars purchased by Gulf countries to destroy Syria! We have 80,000 foreign mercenaries fighting in the ranks of Daesh and al Nusra.’‘
Faiza Garah:
“Who is behind the opposition or ‘terrorists’ as you call them?”
Bachar Al-Jaafari:
The concept of “takfiri” is directly linked to Wahhabism and Saudi Arabia alone. They treat others as criminals.That is why we accuse the Gulf States of shedding Syrian blood. It is because they provide the foundation for this philosphy. That is why we see people beheaded. The philosphy of Daesh is Wahhabism, the amputation of hands, arms, heads by the sword is a Wahhabi tradition in Saudi Arabia.
These groups are on the list of terrorist organisations yet they are state funded. It is not a secret that Turkey finances Daesh and facilitates the movement of its people into Syria.
“It is no longer a secret that Qatar and Saudi Arabia are funding the Al Nousra Front. They pay the bills for training and arming them. It is not just Syria that says it, the security council agrees.”
Faiza Garah:
‘‘How do you see the future of the Syrian crisis?”
Bachar Al-Jaafari:
“We are proud of our national independence and we reject interference from outside. Our only enemy is Israel, it is not just because it is Israel, but because Israel occupies Arab territories and our beloved homeland the Golan Heights.’‘
ADVERTISEMENTFaiza Garah:
“How has the recent truce helped in the distribution of humanitarian aid.”
Bachar Al-Jaafari:
“The Syrian government provides 75% of humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. All the conferences held in London, Rome and Paris are simply facades, the funds are for other things, they are not there to help Syrians inside Syria or the Syrian refugees.’‘
Faiza Garah:
“What should Europe do about the Syrian crisis in your opinion?”
Bachar Al-Jaafari:
“Firstly it must stop interfering in Syria’s internal affairs. Secondly it must lift the sanctions imposed on the Syrian people.
Thirdly reopen embassies in Damascus to witness, first hand what is going on and not rely on opposition sources for their information. Europe is guilty of many strategic mistakes.”
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