Syrian envoy says Turkish aggression has US backing; appreciates India’s stand

Syrian Ambassador to India Dr Riad Kamal Abbas (on the Right) addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Monday.

Oct 13.

1Oct 14, 2019
New Delhi: Syrian Amabassador to India Riad Kamel Abbas on Monday described the ”unilateral military offensive” of Turkey in his country as war crime, and slammed Pakistan and other countries supporting the Turkish agression as ”supporters of terrorism.”

The envoy also claimed that Turkey had the secret backing of the US in its aggression against Syria.

Dr Abbas, however, appreciated the stand taken by India on the Turkish action. On October 10, India had expressed deep concerns over the Turkish offensive  in north-east Syria, saying that Ankara’s actions can undermine “stability in the region” and has the potential for causing humanitarian and civilian distress.

“We are deeply concerned at the unilateral military offensive by Turkey in north-east Syria. Turkey’s actions can undermine stability in the region and the fight against terrorism. Its action also has the potential for causing humanitarian and civilian distress,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said in here in a statement.

The Syrian envoy said India’s support for Syria has always been there, ever since the crisis began.

“I met with EAM (S Jaishankar) and discussed the current issue with Syria and we always talk on how to defeat cross border terrorism, we have received assurance and support from India government regarding support in form of medicines, food, all necessary requirements,” Abbas added.

Replying to a qiestion on Pakistan’s support to Turkey’s attack, the Dr Abbas said: “Turkey supports terrorism, and terrorist groups in Syria, and all who support Turkey are thus supporters of terrorism.”

The envoy also called upon all foreign troops, including the US, to leave the countrty. He also appealed to the international community to put pressure on the Turkish government to stop all its military activities in Syria.

“US troops are still illegally inside Syria, and now are redeployed to some other part of Syria,” he said.

”The Turkish invasion has led to another exodus of Syrian people living in that afrea, causing another humanitatrian crisi,” the Ambassador of the war-torn country said.

–India News Stteam