Friday 17 January 2014

Syria: "It's Our Priority To Fight Terrorism", Despite Peace Talks by Benson Agoha


* Syrian Deputy Prime Minister, Waleed Al Mualim.

The republic of Syria will attend next weeks peace talks but will continue to fight terrorism despite the outcome, say Syrian Deputy Prime Minister, Waleed Al Mualim.

In a letter obtained by Al jazeera, the Syria authorities said the fight against terrorism must be continued because it undermines the existence of the Syrian people.

The deputy prime Minister said "I have examined your letter dated 06.01.2013 containing an invitation to the Arab Republic of Syria to participate in Geneva Conference on 22.01.2014; and I am pleased to inform you that Syria will take part in the Conference."

But he said, although they would attend the conference, they did not fully agree with certain points mentioned in the letter because they were in conflict with the legal and political position of the State of Syria.

The letter said "It remains as the priority to the Syrian people to continue to fight terrorism which undermines the existence of our people; to continue to drain the sources of terrorism; and we also demand the countries supporting terrorism to cease and refrain from funding, training, arming or harbouring terrorist groups in harmony with the International Law and the UN resolutions."

The letter was accompanied by a list of Syrian delegates at the Peace talks.

In a press conference on the Syrian talks recently, US Secretary of State, John Kerry said both US and Russia have talked and are in agreement that the senseless war which has claimed over 100.000 lives must come to an end, though a peaceful process.

In addition, Kerry said although the US and Russia are encouraging the talks, the outcome will be determined by the Syrians who will be deciding the future of their country.

Kerry said the US and Russia will not be attending the peace talks with any pre-determined agenda, but hope that the meeting will be the beginning of the end to the conflict.

Public affairs analysts are speculating whether the Syrian position will potentially affect the outcome of the talks.

The Geneva II Peace Conference on syria holds on Wednesday January 22, 2014.

* Twitter: @bensonagoha.

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