Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh, has stressed that what Syria has been subjected to during the past 11 years as a result of the destructive and criminal policies of some Western countries entails holding these countries accountable for their crimes.
Sabbagh, during a session of the Security Council on the situation in Syria held last night, affirmed that if the Security Council is serious about stopping and preventing war crimes and crimes against humanity, let it begin that immediately by investigating the crimes committed in Raqqa and al-Baghouz by the so-called “International Coalition” which is led by the US.
The Syrian diplomat referred to the letter sent by Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Dr. Fayssal Mikdad, on the 18th of this month to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council on war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the so-called “International Coalition”, in the city of Raqqa and al-Baghouz area in Deir Ezzor countryside, which led to the killing of thousands of innocent people, including women and children, and the destruction of infrastructure, public and private property, health and educational centers, and a number of places of worship.
Sabbagh stressed that Syria holds the US administration and its allies implicated in these attacks fully responsible for the crimes committed by its forces involved in the ranks of this illegal coalition.
“On the 17th of this month, Syria commemorated the 76th anniversary of the evacuation of the last French soldier from its lands, which came as a result of the great sacrifices made by the Syrian people, and today the Syrians confirm their determination to continue their struggle to liberate all their occupied lands,” Sabbagh said.
He added “Syria, as it commemorates its national day, is more committed to its sovereignty, independence and unity, land and people, more determined to restore security and stability and extend state authority over its entire territory, and is more keen on providing a decent life for its people.”
Sabbagh said that ending the illegal foreign presence on the Syrian territory ends the occupying countries’ sponsorship of separatist militias and terrorist groups and helps eliminate the hotbeds of Daesh (ISIS) and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations and their associated entities and groups.
Syria’s permanent representative to the UN noted that some Western countries remain silent regarding the catastrophic effects of the illegal and inhumane unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Syrian people, which have led to a decline in economic and development indicators, a decline in investments and trade exchanges, an increase in inflation rates and a depreciation of the Syrian pound.
Sabbagh indicated that the repercussions of these measures are not limited to the lives of Syrians only, but they also hinder the work of international governmental and non-governmental organizations in the humanitarian field.
He stressed that any talk of exceptions to these unjust coercive measures is just baseless allegations that some governments promote to cover up their violations of human rights, international law and the Charter of the United Nations, adding that these countries continue to obstruct the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2585 related to promoting and increasing early recovery projects.
Sabbagh said that the United States and its Western allies, including its Turkish ally, and their tools of separatist militias and terrorist groups continue to obstruct the delivery of aid from inside Syrian territory to justify their continued violation of Syria’s sovereignty through the so-called “cross-border aid delivery mechanism.”
Sabbagh reiterated Syria’s commitment to a political solution based on a Syrian-Syrian national dialogue and a political process led and owned by Syria without any external interference.
Syria continues its efforts to achieve national reconciliation, including through continuing the settlement processes, which are witnessing great turnout in many cities and regions, and have enabled thousands of Syrians inside and outside Syria to return to their normal lives, according to Sabbagh.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)