- Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA FM Syrian deputy FM "optimistic" in war against rebels
- Date: 12th June 2015
- Summary: PICTURE OF MEKDAD WITH SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD
- Embargoed: 27th June 2015 13:00
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- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA77701HSAJM0QDNUBIS95SX68L
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Syria, with the help of allies Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, can be "optimistic" about its conflict against various rebel groups that have recently made advances in the north and west, Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said on Thursday (June 11).
"What makes us optimistic are two things. The first one is the increase in the strength and morale of the Syrian Arab Army, their sacrifices and the reinforcement of their abilities, during this period, through getting essential requirements for the army in order to do their duties. The second thing is the strong support that we got and will get from our allies, whether from the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation or from our main ally Hezbollah," said Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in an exclusive interview with Reuters.
Iran is Syria's most powerful regional ally and has become even more pivotal to President Bashar al-Assad's position since the uprising against his family's four-decade-long rule of Syria broke out in 2011.
Tehran has provided funds to prop up the struggling economy and Iranian military advisers are on the ground in addition to Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters from neighbouring Lebanon.
The anti-Assad insurgents draw support mainly from the Gulf Arab region, led by Saudi Arabia - rivals of Iran for regional power.
Speaking in his office in Damascus, Mekdad said his country hopes that Turkish intervention in Syria will stop after the Turkish elections that were a "slap" in the face of President Tayyip Erdogan.
"There is an important need to stop the intervention of Turkish security and the army in supporting terrorist groups, whether through the borders or by participating in the battles that these groups have fought in with Turkish support. The invasion that took place in Idlib and Jisr al-Shughour was done by Chechen and Turkmen groups financed by Turkey, trained by Turkey and sent with Turkish protection to Syrian territories," he said.
Mekdad added that all foreign players should stop interfering in the country.
"I think that the Syrian people's will is the base, but foreign players should not complicate the will of Syrian people if they really believe that Syrians should decide their destiny, and this is the real battle. We want everybody to stop meddling in Syrian internal affairs and then Syrians will determine their future through their will and via a Syrian-Syrian dialogue that will reach this result," Mekdad said.
The deputy foreign minister said if a nuclear agreement were signed between Iran and the international community it would help decrease pressure in the region. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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