Syria faces foreign-backed "organized terrorism": FM

DAMASCUS, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al- Moallem said Monday that his country is facing "organized terrorism" backed by foreign countries.

Syria "has been facing organized terrorism that affected our citizens, our human and scientific resources, national establishments, and also many of Syria's historic and archeological landmarks through terrorist bombings, assassinations and massacres," the state-run SANA news agency quoted al-Moallem as saying in an address at the United Nations General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting in New York.

The Syrian foreign minister accused some countries of "either turning a blind eye to the activities of terrorist groups crossing their borders, or providing active material and logistical support from their territory for armed terrorist groups."

"(To) what extent the statements of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United States and France, which clearly induce and support terrorism in Syria with money, weapons and foreign fighters, are in line with the international responsibilities of these countries in combating terrorism?" he questioned.

Al-Moallem pointed out that the "terrorism" in Syria is backed by a media provocation based on igniting religious extremism " sponsored by well-known states."

He also called on the countries to "stop arming, funding, training and harboring armed terrorist groups, and instead to encourage dialogue and renounce violence."

The minister said the Syrian government had the initiative to call for dialogue since the beginning of the crisis and responded positively throughout the crisis to all sincere initiatives that aimed at finding a solution to the crisis without foreign intervention, noting that the government's calls were met with no positive response from the opposition.

Syria has welcomed the appointment of Lakhdar Brahimi as the UN special representative for Syria, and will fully cooperate with him, he said.

The minister highlighted that the success of any international effort requires the commitment from both the Syrian government and the states that are supporting the armed groups in Syria.

He slammed foreign calls for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down as "flagrant interference in the domestic affairs of Syria, the unity of its people and its sovereignty."

"The Syrians are the only ones authorized to choose their own future and the shape of their own state," he said.

The Syrian top diplomat made the remarks as violence remain ongoing in Syria with no sign of backing down, especially in some restive suburbs of the capital Damascus, parts of the northern Aleppo city, and the provinces of Idlib and Deir al-Zour. Enditem