UNITED NATIONS: Syria tells General Assembly Israel is to blame for all Middle East problems

Record ID: 279758

  • Title: UNITED NATIONS: Syria tells General Assembly Israel is to blame for all Middle East problems
  • Date: 27th September 2006
  • Summary: (BN14) UNITED NATIONS (FILE) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 12th October 2006 13:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVA5RKHAOOCHVZTO02A8KM9Q15N9
  • Story Text: During the second week of the United Nations 61st General Assembly, the Syrian Arab Republic's Minister for Foreign Affairs addressed the delegation on Tuesday (September 26) and blamed Israel for unrest in the Middle East.
    Walid Al-Moualem told the delegates, "The international community must realise that the continued Israeli occupation of the Arab territories is the source of all the problems of the region. It is the origin of the overwhelming anger consuming its peoples."
    Al-Moualem spoke in depth about Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon in July in response to the capture of two Israeli soldiers by fighters of Hizbollah.
    Despite the fact that Israeli forces have been gradually pulling out of the territory the army captured during the month-long war, Al-Moualem said that the international community should recognise that Israel's actions are causing resentment among Arabs.
    "It is extremely important for the international community to recognise that the deep-rooted anger and resentment consuming our region, particularly after the senseless war against Lebanon, and the continued log-jam in the efforts for peace constitute a dangerous and critical situation and can only lead to confrontation instead of peace. This will not serve the interest of anyone inside or outside the region," said Al-Moualem.
    The United States was also a topic in Syria's address, following President George W. Bush's address to the General Assembly last week where he assailed the leaders of Iran and Syria and calling Syria "a crossroads for terrorism."
    In response, Al-Moualem said, "Many innocent people in places so distant from the United States of America have unfortunately paid the price of these failed policies. Tragically enough, we all end up paying the price when the decision-makers in Washington believe that they know better and are in a better position to understand and grasp the needs and circumstances of the Arabs. They diagnose the ambitions and aspirations of the Arab individual in a manner that is tailored to their own vision. The fact though is that we, the people of the region, know our circumstances and priorities."
    Syria's isolation from the West rose after former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri's was assassinated in Beirut on February 14, 2005. A U.N. investigation said the assassination could not have been carried out without knowledge of Syrian security officials. Syria denies involvement.
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