"Syria is targeted due to its stances in the face of foreign hegemony and interventions," Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem stressed Tuesday, pointing out that among most obvious anti-Syrian aspects are the unilateral sanctions imposed on it by the U.S. administration in contradiction to the principle of the international law, the UN and the Organization of Islamic Conference ( OIC) Charters.
In an address before the Ministerial Conference of the OIC underway in the Azeri capital of Baku, Mr. Moallem said that since September 11 events the world has been witnessing a clear exploitation of these events in the service of the U.S. interest and hegemony policy under the pretext of fighting terrorism through linking it to Islam without distinguishing between terrorism and the right of the people in resisting occupation as well as not tackling the true reasons of terrorism represented in poverty, negligence and occupation.
According to SANA, he added that the U.S. war on Iraq and Afghanistan and their repercussions on the Middle East led to more tension and chaos in the region and deadlock for the peace process in the region.
The Syrian Foreign Minister called on all the Palestinian parties to exert all efforts to make the national dialogue a success by enhancing the Palestinian national unity.
He criticized the international pressures on Iran due to its nuclear program, adding that such pressures "reiterate once again the unjust approach and double-standard policy pursued by Western circles which dominate the international resolution."
Mr. Moallem expressed Syria's support to Iran's right in the "peaceful" use of nuclear energy, and the right of the states of the region in getting necessary guarantees in this regard, renewing Syria's demand to make the Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destructions.
