Syria raps West for wrecking diplomatic process

Syria raps West for wrecking diplomatic process
Tue Sep 17, 2013 16:24:14

Syria has criticized Western countries for trying to wreck prospects for a negotiated end to the two and a half year long foreign-backed war in the country by imposing preconditions on the peace process and supporting the militants.

"The United States, France and Britain have revealed their true objective ... which is to impose their will on the Syrian people," the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

It also accused the West of supporting militant groups linked to the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front.

The statement came after the US, the UK and France agreed on Monday to press for a UN resolution to ensure Damascus would comply with a US-Russian deal to remove its chemical arsenals by mid-2014.

"If Assad fails to comply with the framework (of the US-Russian plan) we are all agreed that there will be consequences," said US Secretary of State John Kerry after meeting his French and British counterparts in Paris.

The three countries also announced plans to increase their assistance to the foreign-backed militants in Syria, which is considered by the Syrian government as a new obstacle to end the crisis.

"Claims by the United States and its allies that they want a political solution for the crisis in Syria ... contradict their never-ending attempts ... at imposing their conditions, and at supporting groups that practice violence and terrorism in Syria," the Foreign Ministry statement also said.

Russia and the US agreed last Saturday in Geneva on a deal to eliminate Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons by mid-2014.

Based on the agreement, Damascus has one week to hand over the details of its chemical weapons to international inspectors.

Syria has accepted the proposal, which was initially put forward by Russia as a way to head off Washington’s possible use of force against Damascus.

SHI/SHI

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