Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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New York, SANA- Speaker of the People’s Assembly Mohammad Jihad al-Laham on Monday stressed that the international response to combating terrorism has remained limited and based on wrong calculations and policies.
Al-Laham, delivering Syria’s speech before the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament at the UN headquarters in New York, said the stances of the Western countries and some of the neighboring countries, which support terrorism, have remained far from the adherence to implementing the resolutions of the UN Security Council such as the resolution no. 1373 for the year 2001 and the resolutions no. 2170 and 2178 for 2014.
“I came from Syria which taught the world its language and the values of coexistence between cultures and religions over seven thousand years…to send a message of peace, amity and brotherhood to all humanity,” al-Laham added.
He criticized the silence and collusion of some countries which support the Takfiri terrorism and brought terrorists from over 83 counties into Syria, calling for “stopping the terrorist war launched against Syria”, which aims at undermining the Syrian state and displacing its people, before this war will invade the whole world.
Al-Laham affirmed that some countries thought that by supporting Takfiri groups, they will achieve their schemes of undermining the Syrian state and toppling the regime in it, but what they have achieved is killing thousands of the innocent Syrian people, destroying the infrastructure and spreading chaos and terrorism in the world, but they haven’t succeeded in undermining the will of life and the steadfastness of the Syrian people.
He added that the world has started to recognize the danger of terrorism and it has started to talk about the priority of fighting it after the obnoxious crimes of killing and displacement perpetrated by the terrorist organizations against the Syrian and Iraqi people, in addition to destroying the cultural heritage and mass slaughtering people on camera, yet the international response has remained limited and based on wrong policies and calculations.
He reiterated the call upon the world parliaments and governments to adopt a serious and responsible stance towards terrorism to protect the future of “our peoples and children” from the terrorists and their horrifying acts not only in Syria, but in the whole world.
He asserted that fighting terrorism is a top priority in Syria, and it should be a regional and international priority to be a gate into reaching a political solution in Syria based on a national pact and on forming a national accord government and the return of the displaced to their homeland as what is taking place in Syria and Iraq might reach “your countries, if we don’t have the true will and the honest desire to work together for fighting and eliminating terrorism.”
He indicated that peace, development and democracy can’t be achieved as long as there are chaos, terrorism and wars similar to what took place in Syria which has lost what it has achieved of economic, health and educational development over decades.
He concluded by saying “We will not contribute to supporting the international peace while we are watching countries and states that fund and arm terrorist organizations and undermine the regional and international peace in Syria and Iraq, if we don’t put an end to that.”
The Conference of Speakers of Parliament on Monday kicked off at the United Nations headquarters in New York with the participation of a delegation from the People’s Assembly.
Al-Laham heads Syria’s delegation to the conference in which parliamentary delegations representing 140 countries are taking part.
The conference aims to discuss ways to confront international challenges facing peace and democracy in the world, particularly terrorism.
The 3-day conference will also discuss issues related to conflict, terrorism, immigration, discrimination, climate change, efforts to engage young people in the democratic process, gender equality and balanced political representation.
The conference will focus on achieving the seventeen development goals such as the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger and establishing peaceful societies.
Speaker al-Laham meets UN Secretary-General, heads of delegations attending the conference
Later, Speaker al-Laham met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the sideline of the Conference.
During the meeting, which was held at the UN HQ in New York, Ban welcomed Syria’s participation in the conference due to the importance it plays in exchanging viewpoints regarding what is happening in Syria, hoping that a political solution that ends the crisis in Syria will be achieved.
For his part, al-Laham stressed the need for uniting international efforts in accordance with Security Council resolutions to stop the spread of terrorism.
In the same context, al-Laham met Chairman of the Iranian Shura Council Ali Larijani, discussing with him the situation in the region and means for confronting extremism and terrorism.
Larijani reiterated Iran’s support for Syria in its battle against terrorism, asserting that the solution in Syria must begin with fighting terrorism and holding inter-Syrian dialogue, while al-Laham voiced appreciation for Iran’s positions and support for Syria.
Al-Laham also met Vice-President of Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power Ana Maria Machado, with the two sides discussing international developments and bilateral relations, with Machado asserting that the improvement of U.S.-Cuban relations will not affect Syrian-Cuban relations.
Likewise, al-Laham met deputy speaker of the Algerian People’s National Assembly Djamel Bouras, discussing with him means to improve fraternal relations between the two countries, while Bouras voiced support for Syria in its war against terrorism.
A similar meeting was held between al-Laham and Speaker of the National Assembly of Sudan Ibrahim Ahmed Omer, with the two discussing bilateral relations and how to improve them.
R.J / Barry / Hazem Sabbagh
