Foreign and Expatriates Ministry: The Syrian Civilian Aircraft Forced to Land in Ankara Airport Carry No Weapons Onboard
Oct 11, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)_Foreign and Expatriates Ministry stressed that “In relation to the Turkish authorities which forced a Syrian civilian plane to land in Ankara Airport and searched it before allowing it to take off, there were no prohibited goods onboard.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry said that the Syrian plane took off from Moscow Airport yesterday at 14:26 pm with a number of Syrian and Russian passengers onboard. After entering the Turkish air space, and at 17:20 pm, the Turkish authorities addressed the pilot to modify the GPS data and gave him illogical GPS that is different from the pre-set flight course. Then, suddenly and without warning, the pilot noticed that Turkish warplanes accompanied him and forced him to land in Ankara Airport. After landing, nobody approached the plane till two hours later.
Passengers were asked to go to the waiting hall after which the Turkish security authorities subjected the plane to search and assaulted the plane crew, not to mention locking the contents of the plane for long hours, in addition to having reservations on some contents for inspection. The Syrian plane arrived in Damascus Airport today at dawn.
It is a must here to clarify the fact that the plane contents were already listed on the bill of lading and the payload, the ministry said, adding that the plane was carrying no weapons or prohibited goods in accordance with the unblemished international reputation of the Syrian Arab Airlines.
The ministry added that the Syrian government calls upon the Turkish authorities to return the rest of the plane’s contents intact.
The ministry said there might be articles in the international laws and agreements that allow a state to search planes passing through its airspace, but the problem is the Turkish government’s flagrant violation of these laws and agreements through forcing the plane to land despite the fact that the pilot did not refuse to modify the flight course which exposed the safety of the plane and the passengers to threats because of the sudden appearance of the Turkish warplanes without warning, not to mention the inhuman locking the civilian passengers for many hours and assaulting the crew.
The ministry considered the hostile Turkish behavior an additional evidence on the aggressive policy adopted by Erdogan’s government taking into account the training, harboring and facilitating infiltration through its borders and bombing the Syrian territories.
The Ministry concluded that despite the condemned hostile behavior of the Turkish government, this will not affect our commitment to the friendship relations between the Syrian and Turkish peoples which are greater and much more important than any government.
Foreign and Expatriates Ministry: Media Reports on the Syrian Air Force Intercepting a Turkish Commercial Plane Baseless
The Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said that some media reports claiming that the Syrian air force intercepted on Thursday a Turkish commercial plane that took off from Beirut and crossed the Syrian airspace are completely baseless.
The ministry said in a statement that the Syrian authorities did not intercept any Turkish civilian or commercial plane.
Syrian Passenger Plane, Forced to Land by Turkish Authorities in Ankara Airport, Arrives in Damascus
Oct 11, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- The Syrian Airbus 320 passenger plane coming from Moscow, which was forced by the Turkish authorities to land in Ankara Airport on Wednesday, arrived in Damascus at 05:10 am Thursday dawn.
Director of the Syrian Arab Airlines, Ghaida Abdullatif, stressed in a statement to SANA that the Turkish authorities assaulted the crew before allowing the plane to take off from Ankara Airport because the crew members refused to sign a document saying that the plane made an emergency landing.
“Turkish F-16 warplanes forced the Syrian plane to land to be searched, doing so in violation of the international procedures in terms of not formerly notifying neither its pilot nor the Turkish civil airline, which almost caused an air accident due to warplanes coming close at an uncalculated distance,” said Abdullatif.
She stressed that the Syrian plane was not carrying any illegal materials and that the cargo was in compliance with the international laws and systems having a legal bill of landing.
Abdullatif assured that all the passengers are in a good health condition, however suffering a very bad psychological state.
The Director of the Syrian Arab Airlines considered what happened as “an inhumane act” that indicates a flaw in dealing with the rules and laws stated in the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
“Added to that,” Abdullatif said, “the long hours during which the passengers were locked without being provided any services or even informed of what was going on, which left them in a state of panic and a very bad psychological condition.”
She noted that the Syrian Arab Airlines will file a protest to the International Union of Aviation and the Arab Aviation Union as well as all the international and humanitarian organizations against the inhumane treatment the plane’s crew and passengers were subjected to.
She called for separating the political side from the civil aviation in all countries of the world as the civil aviation is a way of communication among peoples.
Russia Asks Turkey for Explanation
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its concern over the risks which the passengers of the Syrian plane, including 17 Russians, were subjected to being locked for 8 hours on board.
A statement by the Ministry on Thursday stressed that the Turkish side did not inform the Russian Embassy in Ankara of the presence of Russian citizens on board the plane, adding that “we only knew about that through electronic media.”
The statement said Russian consulate staff and a doctor were denied permission to see the Russian passengers without giving explanations despite the Russian Embassy’s asking for permission from the Turkish authorities.
“This came in violation of the bilateral consular agreements,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in its statement, stressing that the Russian passengers were not allowed over 8 hours to come down to the Airport building and were not provided any food, as they were only given permission to go down to the Airport land for a short while.
The statement stressed that the Russian side insists on getting an explanation of such acts by the Turkish authorities towards the Russian citizens and on taking measures that prevent the repetition of such incidents in the future.
A source at the Ministry also said the Russian Embassy in Ankara immediately called the Turkish Foreign Ministry and asked for an explanation about what the Syrian plane was subjected to in the course of its flight from Moscow to Damascus, calling upon the Turkish authorities to assume their responsibilities for the safety of the Russian passengers who were on board.
In the same context, a high-ranking source at a Russian weapons export institution dismissed the existence of any type of weapons or military technology devices and systems on board the Syrian plane.
The source highlighted that “Russia has not halted its cooperation in the field of military technologies with Syria and will provide Syria with any type of military technologies in case of need according to the rules followed and not secretly, particularly via a passenger plane.”
Diplomatic Source in Moscow: Russia’s Ambassador in Ankara Visited Turkish Foreign Ministry Concerning the Syrian Civilian Aircraft Incident
A diplomatic source in Moscow announced on Thursday that the Russian ambassador in Ankara visited the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
The source indicated that the visit was related to the incident of forcing the Syrian civilian aircraft to land in Ankara airport, which in fact was on a regular flight from Moscow to Damascus with 17 Russian passengers on board, among them 7 children.
The Russian authorities expressed concern over the incident, considering that it threatened its nationals and was a violation of international conventions in treating civilian passengers.
There have been no further information on the visit of the Russian ambassador.
Foreign and Expatriates Ministry stressed in a statement earlier in the day that the Syrian civilian aircraft was carrying no weapons or prohibited goods, considering the hostile Turkish behavior an additional evidence on the aggressive policy adopted by Erdogan’s government, taking into account the training, harboring and facilitating infiltration through its borders and bombing the Syrian territories.
Information Ministry: Syrian Plane Carried no Ammunitions or Military Equipment
Oct 11, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Information Ministry on Thursday stressed that the Syrian plane which was forced by the Turkish warplanes to land in Ankara did not carry any ammunitions or military equipment.
In a statement, the Ministry said that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement in which he claimed that the Syrian plane carried ammunition and an ‘illegal’ cargo lack credibility, adding that he should show the equipment and ammunition to prove what he said before his people.
Earlier, the Expatriates and Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Syrian civil plane did not carry any sort of weapons or government goods. the plane contents were already listed on the bill of lading and the payload. the plane was carrying no weapons or prohibited goods in accordance with the unblemished international reputation of the Syrian Arab Airlines.
The Ministry added that Erdogan’s statements uncover the fact of the Turkish authorities’ involvement in the piracy on the plane which was flying from Moscow to Damascus.
Foreign Ministry: Statements of Erdogan and Davutoglu on Syrian plane that it was carrying ammunitions or “illegal cargo” are untrue
Oct 11, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- Foreign and Expatriates Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdisi underlined that the statements of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Foreign Minister Ahemt Davutoglu claiming that the Syrian plane, forced to land in Ankara by Turkish warplanes, was carrying ammunitions of “illegal cargo” are categorically untrue.
In a statement on Thursday, Makdisi added that those statements uncover the fact of the Turkish authorities’ involvement in the piracy on the plane which was flying from Moscow to Damascus.
Earlier, the Foreign Ministry stressed in a previous statement that what has been reported by some media about the Syrian air force intercepting a Turkish plane which took off from Beirut and entered the Syrian airspace were untrue and baseless.
Terrorists Killed, DShK-equipped Cars Destroyed, Weapons Seized in Several Provinces
Oct 11, 2012
PROVINCES, (SANA)- A unit of the Armed Forces on Thursday carried out qualitative operations against terrorists in Qadi Askar roundabout and the areas around the Eye Hospital and the slaughterhouse in Aleppo city.
The operations resulted in destroying a mortar, 6 DShK-equipped cars, weapons and ammunition warehouse and a stolen ambulance loaded with weapons and ammunition.
The army members also killed 3 RPG shooters and a large number of Terrorists.
The Army units in Aleppo carried qualitative operations that destroyed the gatherings of terrorists to the north of Kfar Aleppo station, two DSHK-equipped cars, killing a number of terrorists, among them Fayssal al-Zubaidi of Qatari nationality, Abdullah al-Rathiyan, Known as Abu Bilal of Saudi Arabia nationality, Moa’ab Sarmani, Hassan Mire’e al-tona and Hassan Mohammad Al-Shabib.
The Army also targeted another den for terrorists at al-Tawama village in al-Atareb in Aleppo, destroying two cars loaded with ammunitions and three DSHK-equipped cars, killing a big number of the terrorist.
An Armed Forces unit attacked a headquarters for terrorists in al-Atareb town in Aleppo countryside and destroyed two DShK-equipped vehicles and a motorcycle transferring terrorists.
In the city of Aleppo, the Armed Forces carried out qualitative operations which resulted in destroying a weapon cache and two DShK-equipped vehicles in Qadi Askar area.
The operations also led to killing a large number of terrorists in al-Tananir Square, Bustan al-Qaser, al-Kallaseh, Souq al-Hal, Souq al-Fustuq, and Antakia Gate areas.
The Armed Forces destroyed three DShK-equipped vehicles and eliminated a number of terrorists in qualitative operations in Mafraq al-Zaroura, Prophet Youssef Mosque and Mafraq al-Sarwat in Khan al-Asal area in Aleppo.
In Aleppo countryside, terrorist Basem Shaaban, a leader of an armed terrorist group, was killed and terrorist Majed Jouma al-Khaled, another leader of an armed terrorist group, was wounded during clashes between the two groups that resulted in killing nine terrorists and wounding 15 others, in addition to destroying severn motorcycles and two cars used by terrorists in Kafar Halab town.
Terrorist Group Assassinates Citizen Diab Mohammad Kheir al-Mashi in Aleppo Countryside
An armed terrorist group assassinated on Thursday the citizen Diab al-Mashi in the house of his father, the member of the People’s Assembly Mohammad Kheir al-Mashi in al-Mashi village in Manbej in Aleppo countryside.
SANA reporter in Aleppo said that 50 terrorists stormed on Thursday al-Mashi’s house and shot him dead.
12 Explosive Devices Dismantled, 9 Mortar Rounds Found in Damascus Countryside
Units of the armed forces dismantled 12 explosive devices, each of which weighed 12 kg, planted by terrorists on the agricultural routes in Zbdeen farms in Damascus Countryside.
A unit of the armed forces found 9 mortar rounds in a farm on the outskirts of al-Mlieha town in the eastern Ghotta in Damascus Countryside.
In the same context, an army unit eliminated an armed terrorist group that was attacking citizens in the town.
Meanwhile, the armed forces released citizen Ahmad al-Hafian from al-Mleiha town who has been kidnapped by an armed terrorist group a week ago.
Armed Forces Clash with Terrorists in Homs
A unit of the Armed Forces clashed with an armed terrorist group which attacked the citizens and the law-enforcement forces in al-Za’afaraneh and Deirfoul towns in al-Rastan countryside in Homs.
The clash resulted in the killing and wounding of the members of the armed group.
The armed forces killed a number of terrorists who were cutting off roads in Talbeiseh town in Homs.
Terrorist Abdel-Rahman Jamal Sweis was identified among the dead.
Rifles and Bombs Seized in Lattakia
Authorities seized a number of rifles, bombs and amounts of C4 material in an apartment in Ali Jammal Street in Lattakia city which the terrorists were using in manufacturing explosive devices.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that the seized materials included a number of machineguns, grenades and 8 kg of C4 explosives which the terrorists were using in making explosive devices.
8 Civilians Martyred, 8 Others Injured in Terrorist Attack against Bus after Crossing Borders from Lebanon
An armed terrorist group Wednesday night attacked a bus carrying Syrian workers coming from Lebanon a few minutes after entering al-Arida border crossing to the Syrian territories.
The attack resulted in killing 8 civilians and injuring 8 others who were taken to al-Basel Hospital in Tartous.
Director of al-Basel Hospital, Yasin Ibrahim said that 8 bodies arrived to the hospital and were put into the refrigerator, adding that they were not identified.
He said that the injuries varied between fractions, shotgun wounds in the chest and limbs and they were treated.
One of the injured, Mohammad Mousa al-Alo told SANA reporter that “at 2:00 am, two cars blocked the way of their bus after entering al-Arida border crossing and took us to a farm. The terrorists handcuffed us, blindfolded us, beat and cursed us for not supporting what they called the rebels of Aleppo.”
In turn, the injured Mohammad Hassan al-Ahmad from Efreen city in Aleppo said that the terrorist group assaulted them and took their personal documents before taking them back to the bus and opening fire on them.
Armed Group Burglarizes Truck Loaded with Bread in Idleb Countryside
An armed terrorist group burglarized a truck loaded with bread on Salqeen-Harem road in the countryside of Idleb.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that an armed terrorist group blocked the truck’s way to Harem city and forced the driver to head to unknown place with the aim of putting pressure on the inhabitants of the city to engage into the terrorist operation carried out by the gunmen in the region.
The source added that the terrorists are preventing the delivery of food materials, particularly bread, to citizens in several areas.
Armed Terrorist Group Kills Citizen Abdel-Mona’em Mousa al-Abboud in Daraa
An armed terrorist group stormed the house of Abdel-Mona’em Mousa al-Abboud, brother of the Syrian People’s Assembly Meember Khaled al-Abboud and shot him dead.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that 7 terrorists raided al-Abboud’s house and opened fire on him and that he was admitted to Daraa National Hospital but he died of wounds.
In Daraa countryside, the Armed Forces clashed with an armed terrorist group in Kafar Shams village and seized the terrorists’ weapons.
An official source in the province told SANA reporter that the seized weapons included a number of machineguns, RPG launchers, PKC machineguns and ammunition magazines.
The source added that the clashes resulted in killing a number of terrorists.
Terrorist Used to Issue Fatwas on Killing and Committing Terrorism agianst Citizens in Raqqa Killed
The armed forces killed terrorist, nicknamed Abu Qutada, who issued fatwas on killing and committing terrorist acts against citizens in Tal Abiad in the countryside of Raqqa.
Premier al-Halqi: National Economy Good… Engineers are Government’s Partners in Development Process
Oct 11, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Prime Minister Dr. Wael al-Halqi stressed that the national economy is good and the government’s strategic storage secures self-sufficiency of food materials, strategic goods and oil derivatives.
Meeting Chairman of the Engineers’ Syndicate, Walid Ghazal, and members of the Syndicate’s office, Premier al-Halqi hailed the engineers’ efforts in supporting the comprehensive development process, expressing the government’s readiness to provide necessary support to meet their needs.
Al-Halqi reiterated confidence in the close end of the current crisis and Syria’s battle against terrorism, armed terrorist groups and those who support them thanks to the unity of its people and the sacrifices of the armed forces.
He said that the government is working hard to provide the Syrian people’s basic needs, in parallel with is efforts in the foreign political field and the axis of national reconciliation.
For their part, the engineers stressed that they will make use of all the capabilities available in the interest of Syria’s security and stability and to support the development process, expressing readiness to cooperate with local authorities to carry out real estate development projects on the basis of joint responsibility, not material benefits.
The meeting focused on the role of engineers as partners with the government in the process of construction and development side by side with other national powers and civil components to overcome the current situation through dialogue, political solution, national reconciliation and rejection of foreign intervention in Syria’s affairs.
Discussions also dealt with the situation of engineers, the need for providing job opportunities for them, in addition to tackling some administrative problems faced by the engineers.
140 Citizens from Aleppo Released after Turning Themselves In
Oct 11, 2012
ALEPPO, (SANA) – 104 citizens from Aleppo who got involved in recent events but did not commit murder were released on Thursday after turning themselves in and handing over their weapons to the authorities.
Ministry of Justice said in a statement on Thursday that the persons were released after pledging not to take up arms again nor commit any act that might harm Syria’s security and stability.
Earlier in the day, 36 persons who got involved in recent events but did not commit murder in Aleppo were released.
People’s Assembly Condemns Continuous Israeli Violations against Islamic and Christian Sanctities in Occupied Jerusalem
Oct 11, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Syrian People’s Assembly strongly condemned the escalating Israeli transgressions against the Islamic and Christian sanctities in the occupied Palestine, the last of which when a number of Zionist settlers , protected by the occupation forces, stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque square and attacked the worshippers and prevented them from performing Friday prayers, not to mention desecrating Christian sanctities in the occupied Jerusalem with racial writings.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the People’s Assembly said that the continuous Israeli violations against the Islamic and Christian sanctities cannot be separated from the campaigns targeting Islamic and religious symbols, particularly those which offended the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in some western countries, adding that the sides behind these violations and assaults have one goal.
The statement added that the silence of Arab governments that claim to defend Muslims over the escalating and organized terrorism practiced by the Israeli occupation authorities against Islamic and Christian sanctities in the occupied Jerusalem is a shame.
The People’s Assembly considered these countries’ failure in shouldering their responsibility in putting an end to these violations make them partners in the crime as they encourage the Israeli occupation to persist in its violations and step up their juadization policies to change the historic and cultural aspects of Jerusalem and obliterate the Arab and Islamic identity of the city.
The statement called upon the Arab and Islamic peoples and their parliaments to take serious measures to pressure their governments to stop the Zionist practices and prevent the Israeli occupation from implementing its scheme in juadizing Jerusalem and changing its demography through destroying Palestinian neighborhoods, forcing Palestinians to leave the city and juadizing the Islamic and Christian sanctities to eliminate the Palestinian existence.
It also called upon the international community and the international organizations and bodies to shoulder their responsibility in ending the repeated and serious violations of the international laws and conventions , to protect the humanitarian and cultural heritage of Jerusalem and to make the occupation government understand that it will not escape punishment for its crimes.
The People’s Assembly urged Arab, Islamic and international media institutions to expose the Israeli occupation’s crimes and racial policies against Muslims and Christians and its attempts to change the historic aspects of Jerusalem.
The statement called upon Palestinians to overcome their disputes and unite their ranks to face the Israeli occupation.
Philippines Expresses Readiness to Join Efforts for Solving Crisis in Syria
Oct 11, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Interior Minister General Mohammad al-Shaar on Thursday stressed the ministry’s readiness to provide all facilitations to the Philippine nationals in Syria.
During a meeting with Philippine Deputy Foreign Minister, Rafael Seguis, al-Shaar stressed that the situation of Philippine baby sitters will be settled, particularly those in Aleppo city.
The talks dealt with current situation in Syria and the aggression against other countries in the region and the world.
Minister al-Shaar pointed out to the terrorist onslaught against Syria launched by countries which support terrorism and provide the armed terrorist groups with money and arms.
He added that the whole world now recognizes that some countries are sending terrorist takfiri fighters of Arab and foreign nationalities to commit terrorist acts against the Syrians and the state institutions.
Al-Shaar said that Syria is pursuing the vanquished terrorist to prevent them from committing more sabotage acts and protect the citizens from their aggression.
The minister stressed that Syria is serious in its efforts to reach political dialogue and it supports any initiative which rejects foreign intervention in the Syrian internal affairs.
In turn, the Philippine Deputy Foreign Minister stressed his country’s support to the Syrian government in the face of the current crisis, adding that the Philippines abstained from voting in favor of the Saudi draft resolution submitted at the UN General Assembly which allows foreign intervention in Syria’s affairs.
Seguis said that the Philippines is convinced that Syria is facing a ferocious instigative media campaign, reiterating his country’s readiness to provide help to Syria that might contribute to getting out of the crisis.
He added that his country insists on keeping its embassy in Syria open.
Nasrallah Calls for Political Solution in Syria Through National Dialogue
Oct 11, 2012
BEIRUT, (SANA) – Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, stressed on Thursday that his party’s stance on the ongoing events in Syria is clear, and it has not been changed in spite of all pressure.
In a speech broadcast on al-Manar satellite channel, Nasrallah said that he is still calling for a political solution through national dialogue and ending bloodshed in Syria, pointing out that the situation in Syria is dangerous on Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey and Jordan and the whole region.
He added that Syria does not need Hezbollah or any other side to fight beside it, pointing out that his party has not taken such a decision yet.
Al-Maliki Urges Peaceful Solution to Syria Crisis
Oct 11, 2012
PRAGUE, (SANA)_Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, reiterated that the sole solution to the crisis in Syria is the peaceful solution and non-interference in its internal affairs, and that all parties come to the negotiating table to reach a solution that serves the interests of the Syrian people, regardless of their political affiliations.
In a press conference on Thursday following his talks with his Czech counterpart Petr Nečas in Prague, al-Maliki called upon all countries who are sending weapons to Syria and interfering in the Syrian internal affairs to act positively and help find a solution.
Al-Maliki denied that Iraq allows transporting weapons to Syria through its territories, describing the information in this regard a ”baseless propaganda.”
Al-Maliki said Iraq does not believe in the use of force and weapons as a means for solving the crisis in Syria, pointing out that stability in the region will not prevail by using force.
He stressed that Iraq is playing a positive role and its policy is clear in this regard, which rejects the flow of weapons to Syria.
He warned that the weapons sent to Syria are used against the Syrian people.
Al-Maliki discussed with his Czech counterpart bilateral relations and means of developing them in all fields, including the possibility of purchasing Czech L-159 aircrafts.
Shipment of Russian Aid to Be Distributed in Hasaka
Oct 11, 2012
HASAKA, (SANA) – A shipment of the Russian aid arrived in Hasaka province to be distributed to the families who fled their houses due to the armed terrorist groups’ crimes and took refuge in the province.
Hasaka Governor, Khdr al-Hussein, told SANA reporter that the aid indicates to the deep cooperation and friendship relations between the Syrian and Russian people, adding that the aid will be distributed in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) in the province.
Al-Hussein hailed the support of Russia and other friendly countries to Syria’s legitimate right to defend its territorial unity and their standing by the Syrian people to face the unjust economic sanctions imposed by some Arab and western countries.
According to SARC head in the province, Abdel-Wahab al-Issa, the SARC will distribute the aid to the families in the makeshift centers taking into account the number of members in each family.
A number of Russian aircrafts loaded with food and medical supplies arrived in Damascus International Airport in the past few weeks.
Directorate of Antiquities and Museums: Goals of the ISESCO Emergency Meeting for Protecting Cultural Heritage were Politicized
Oct 11, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)_Directorate of Antiquities and Museums said that the goals of the emergency meeting organized by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in Cairo for studying the methods of protecting the cultural heritage in Aleppo city were politicized, as the participants made political statements that reflected the stances of their countries on Syria’s battle with terrorism.
The Directorate said in a statement issued on Thursday that ”ISESCO should have stuck to its declared goals stated in its founding charter through coordinating its efforts with the bodies concerned in Syria to protect and save the Syrian cultural heritage as to ensure effectiveness of its work and closely inspect the damage caused to the Syrian cultural heritage in Syria, especially in Aleppo.
”About 18 months on the outset of the sorrowful events in Syria, ISESCO did not bother about asking for any information or technical scientific reports on the scope of damage caused to the Syrian cultural heritage, which proves that it is not interested in the matter as scores of messages came from US and European organizations, bodies and archeologists expressing readiness to put their expertise at the disposal of Syria for alleviating the impact of damage that hit the Syrian heritage,” the statement added.
The statement said that ISESCO has not taken any necessary measures to stop the movement of cross-border trafficking gangs and to confiscate the stolen ancient pieces that were smuggled from Syria after illegal excavations that some immoral persons conducted, taking advantage of the current situation, in stark contrast to Syria’s efforts to protect the Iraqi cultural heritage during the US war on Iraq through curbing the activities of illegal smugglers then and returning thousands of ancient pieces that were stolen from Iraqi museums.
The statement added that contrary to reports on news agencies and websites, Syria has not taken part and was not represented by any of its specialists in this field in the emergency meeting, pledging to spare no efforts in coordination with all the personalities and bodies who care for the Syrian heritage, regardless of their intellectual or political orientations.
The statement indicated that the Directorate has taken all necessary precautionary measures since the onset of the crisis to protect the ancient pieces in museums which has considerably saved them from harm.
The Directorate expressed appreciation for the fruitful cooperation with the UNESCO for organizing a training course in Damascus for training national cadres on the means of protecting cultural heritage in times of danger, hailing the efforts of the Syrian citizens who exerted utmost efforts to defend the cultural heritage.
Czech Young Communists Union: Syria Foiled US Scheme in the Region
Oct 11, 2012
PRAGUE, (SANA)- The Union of the Young Communists of Czechoslovakia stressed that Syria has achieved lots of successes as it foiled the US scheme which aims at undermining its progressive government and substituting it with another regime loyal to the US before the American Presidential elections.
The Union added in a comment posted on its website on Thursday, that the Syrian leadership hindered the US project in the region, therefore the US President Barak Obama is unable to show any positive outcomes in the foreign policy field in his election campaign.
The Union slammed the Turkish government saboteur role in the crisis in Syria through training and financing the armed terrorist groups and sending them to Syria, describing the latest Turkish moves against Syria as “provocative”.
It considered the Turkish Parliament’s decision to send military forces outside Turkey as a flagrant violation of the UN charter, particularly the principle of non-interference in the countries’ internal affairs and non-use of military force.
The Czechoslovakia Union hailed the high fighting capability of the Syrian Arab Army, asserting that the NATO and the Turkish government seek to weaken this Army through dragging it to fight on several fronts as it is confronting the terrorists inside Syria, while at the same time there are those who want to drag it to a war with the NATO.
The Union called on Russia and China to put an end to the Turkish government’s excessiveness against Syria through threatening punitive measures against it.