Muallem: Syria Rejects Any 'Arab Solutions' From Now On
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Syria said on Tuesday it will spurn further Arab efforts to resolve its political crisis, as Gulf states piled on pressure by deciding to pull out their observers and urging strong U.N. action.
The Arab League said its monitors would be confined to base from Wednesday unless Damascus gives its approval for the mission to continue for a second month after an informal extension ran out.
"Enough of the Arab solutions from now," Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said, accusing the Arabs of "plotting" to internationalize the crisis and taking decisions while "knowing that they will be rejected" by Damascus.
His remarks came after the pan-Arab bloc called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power to his deputy and to clear the way for a unity government within two months, in a surprise weekend announcement.
"We do not want Arab solutions. We said that two days ago when we refused the initiative and when the ministers' council decided to turn to the Security Council," said Muallem. "We categorically refused (this proposal).
"The solution is a Syrian one based on the interests of the Syrian people ... based on the completion of the reform program proposed by President Bashar al-Assad," he told a televised news conference.
Muallem said Syria had no choice but to confront armed groups that the government blames for the violence which the U.N. says has killed more than 5,400 people since March.
"It is the duty of the Syrian government to take the necessary measures to address the problem of those armed elements who are wreaking havoc throughout Syria," he said, stressing Russia would never accept foreign intervention.
"No one can doubt the strength of the Russian-Syrian relationship," based on their history and the interests of both peoples, he said.
Muallem admitted the violence and Western sanctions were causing an economic crisis in Syria, but vowed the government would not be swayed.
"There is no doubt that any kind of sanctions affect the population but they do not affect the political situation," Muallem said, speaking a day after EU foreign ministers slapped fresh sanctions on Syria's military brass.
The Arab League said on Tuesday it had requested a meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon so it can present its proposals on resolving the crisis and seek support from the U.N. Security Council.
The request was issued jointly by the pan-Arab body's secretary general, Nabil al-Arabi, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, deputy secretary general Ahmad bin Helli told AFP.
Muallem brushed off the threat of the Security Council.
"If they go to (U.N. headquarters in) New York or the moon, as long as we don't pay their tickets, this is their business," he said.
Bin Helli said that the League's observers had been operating in Syria under an informal agreement that expired on Tuesday.
"If the Syrian government does not give its agreement to (further) extend the mission, the observers will suspend their work, will remain in their places of residence and will not move," he said.
The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council said it had decided "to follow Saudi Arabia's decision to pull out its observers from the Arab League mission in Syria."
The GCC called on "members of the U.N. Security Council ... to take all needed measures to press Syria to implement the Arab League decisions and the Arab initiative on Syria."
The Gulf states accounted for 54 of the 165 monitors in the Arab League mission to Syria, a GCC official said.
Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia decided on Sunday to pull out its observers.
Western governments have been capitalizing on the Arab League's tough new stance to embark on a fresh drive for action by the Security Council.
Germany's U.N. ambassador Peter Wittig said it could mark a "game changer."
Wittig and the British and French ambassadors met counterparts from some Arab League nations late on Monday to map out the next moves at the U.N.
The European countries have asked for the Security Council to request that Arab League chief Arabi brief the 15-member Council "as soon as possible", diplomats said.
The Security Council has been blocked for months over Syria. Russia and China vetoed a proposed European resolution in October saying it was the first steps toward enforced regime change.
24 January 2012, 14:48
25
"There is no doubt that any kind of sanctions affect the population but they do not affect the political situation," Muallem stated.
In others words, let them all die, as long as my beloved boss remains in power...
Internationalizing the crisis? i believe that there is only that little village located at the border of the North pole which hasn't heard about Syria yet.
24 January 2012, 15:01
26
Walid, you look terrible. Stressed out? Nervous? I understand...listen, why don't you leave Syria now, before you suffer the same fate as Bashar, his family and his "friends"? I would, if I were you....if not, Allah Maa'ek....and good riddance, as well, you moron. Oh, by the way, remember what you did to Lebanon for 30 years? Well, it's PAYBACK TIME, you motherfxxker....what goes around, ya Walid, is coming around, and it's coming right up your "theeze".
24 January 2012, 15:15
25
Who cares what Muallam says, or thinks.... A vacuous ignorant spokesperson for the ruling mafia family in Damascus.... A nobody representing a gang...... They should all hang for their crimes.
24 January 2012, 15:57
26
You are going down with your masters fat so...Maybe you cannot feel the heat yet because of the fat that engulfs your body...Trust me, the moment you feel the heat is when you start to disintegrate..
24 January 2012, 16:27
14
Gabby, what's with "Fatso" Muallem? Is the game over yet? Is it bye bye bye bye bye bye ya 7elween as your bro sergio seems to conclude? Will your predictions finally materialize after over 6 long years? Keep us posted, my friend. I bought the celebration costume back in 2005 when you first predicted the fall of the "ASSad" regime and I am afraid it will no longer fit if you once again extend the grace period to the "ASSad" regime. Do something, buddy.
24 January 2012, 18:41
16
Funny, if memory serves they had no problem participating in the Internationalizing of the invasion Iraq as long as the US and Israel allowed them to invade and occupy Lebanon, but then again Lebanon should be part of Syria, right.
24 January 2012, 19:08
25
Muallem, you are big piece of meat, with no qualifications whatsoever, go back to your lies and dishes , and you know Putin will sell you so that the world covers their eyes on the Russian elections soon to come because a big opposition is mounting against him. They will sell you with no hesitations when the moment comes. So i suggest you better find another way.
24 January 2012, 20:02
00
What is the majestic Walid Muallem talking about , the revolt was over weeks ago the magnificent GMA said so and he's never ever ever wrong .
GMA master of the sure thing .
24 January 2012, 20:04
14
This is typical behaviour of dictators who live in alternative realities and refuse to admit the facts on the ground. Assad forces pathetically failed to conquer small towns like zabadani and bab amro, can you imagine the situation 6 months from now? how big the defections in the army would be? where would the economy be? the regime will fall by laws of mathematics. It will convert to become a big militia in latakia-banias where they would try to create a mini state like serbia. The regime will lose Damascus-Aleppo come this summer, the demographics are not in the regime's favor and in civil wars if you dont have the numbers you cant prevail.
24 January 2012, 23:21
01
If memory serves me right, The U.S. attacked Iraq without a United Nations mandate. So what makes Syria think that NATO will seek a U.N. mandate to bomb Syria? Muallem,just like Assad your days are numbered
25 January 2012, 04:16
21
I do not like Assad but would much prefer him over salafis, brotherhood and 3eegal wearing gulf bedoiuns. I hope he stays in power to spite you all 3eegal loving bedouins.
25 January 2012, 07:53
12
@ Arzz, yes prefer him over salafis, because he was so good to Lebanon all this 30 years of occupation... I dont like the salafis or the bedouins, but you are a coward because you are scared that if he goes , minorities will be killed everywhere. U must be a christian, well let me tell you something my friend, christians in lebanon have never needed protection from anyone and we were persecuted and have been resisting for more than 1500 years... So if you are scared, dont talk for others, and as long as our Sunnite and chiite brothers in Lebanon are here for us as well and would not replace us, we should not be scared of anything if united.
25 January 2012, 21:11
00
The Syrian government will try to make this conflict drag for as long as they can. What they want is parts of the opposition to start targeting the alawites. That is why opposition members must make it known that the protestors will NOT target the alawites but only those who support the regime. Bashar's regime wants to transform this conflict into one that is sectarian.
25 January 2012, 21:15
00
Ctd: And do you think that if Bashars regime does end up falling that the Syrian people, who have been oppressed for so long, will allow themselves to be governed by the muslim brotherhood.
just to add the muslim brotherhood aren't Salafis...
