Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Geneva, SANA- Foreign and Expatriates Minister Faysal Mikdak said that the Western countries continue to exploit the Human Rights Council (HRC) and its mechanisms to accuse countries of violating the human rights and use this issue as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of these countries.
Delivering a speech at the 49th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva via video on Tuesday , Mikdad said that the real goal of the politicized decisions targeting Syria is to provide a cover for the countries which practice aggression , occupation, and support terrorism to use it against the Syrian state.
Mikdad said that Syria believes in constructive dialogue that respects the privacy of states and societies and their cultural and civilized diversity, affirming that the HRC should play the role agreed upon by member states since it was established based on dialogue.
Mikdad indicated that Britain, which is leading initiatives on Syria in the Human Rights Council, has spent four billion dollars on misleading campaigns targeting Syria, according to what was revealed by British media outlets ,calling the council to consider these practices and end the work of the politicized mechanisms that it established without the approval of the concerned state.
He added that in light of these challenges, the Syrian state continues to assume its responsibilities and duties in preserving national sovereignty, liberating the Syrian territory from foreign occupation, and combating terrorist groups, in addition to maintaining lives of its citizens and meeting their basic needs
The Minister noted that Syria emphasized keenness to fulfil its international obligations based on the UN Charter, as the country has finished the discussion of its 3rd national report in the framework of the mechanism of the Universal Periodic Review.
He explained that the national report has highlighted the Syrian State’s efforts within the available possibilities in the field of rehabilitating areas which had been liberated from terrorism, protecting its citizens’ rights, meeting their basic needs, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, and achieving sustainable development goals.
He expressed Syria’s regret that these efforts are hindered by stances prioritize political agendas instead of humanitarian issues and seek to suffocate the Syrians through economic blockade deprive them of food, medicine, oil and energy resources and impose political conditions on the UN humanitarian organizations to impede their cooperation with the Syrian state.
He affirmed Syria’s determination to clear its territory from the remnants of terrorism , foreign occupation, and confront the separatist agendas and practices of US backed-QSD militia, which threaten the Syrian territorial integrity.
Mikdad added that at the same time, the state continues in reconciliation and settlement paths, which achieve remarkable progress in different regions, thanks to the 21 amnesty decrees issued by President Bashar al-Assad since 2011.
He stressed on Syria’s Syria commitment to a political process led by the Syrians themselves with the facilitation of the UN and without external interference or preconditions, adding that that the Committee of Discussing the Constitution has the exclusive decision to decide its course of action and the outcomes it can reach.
Mikdad also reiterated Syria’s firm right to restore the occupied Golan and its categorical rejection of the unilateral measures taken by Israel to perpetuate its occupation and escalate its settlement practices.
Rafah al-Allouni/Shaza Qreima
