Presidential Decision on Forming Committee to Rehabilitate Great Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo
Oct 15, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – President Bashar al-Assad on Monday issued Presidential Decision No. 18 for 2012 on forming a committee to carry out maintenance and rehabilitation works of the Great Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo.
The committee is headed by Governor of Aleppo , Mohammad Wahid Aqqad, and it consists of seven members.
The decision set December 31st, 2013 as the deadline for completing the maintenance and rehabilitation works on.
The committee members are:
– Aleppo Governor Mohammad Wahid Aqqad, Chairman
– Director General of Military Construction Establishment Gen. Riad Issa, member
– Director of Antiquities and Museums in Aleppo Yousef Kanjo, member
– Head of the Antiquities Institution Mohammad Qejeh, member
– Engineer Marwan Hamzeh from Engineering Department at Aleppo University, member
– Engineer Fadel Mzayek from Engineering Department at Aleppo University, member
– Engineer Mohammad Mesbah Baqi from Engineers’ Syndicate in Aleppo, member
– Engineer Mohammad Wahid Haddad from Aleppo Endowments Directorate, member
Levant Scholars Union, Endowments Ministry Denounce Attack on Great Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo
The Levant Scholars Union denounced on behalf of Arab and Islamic world the attack perpetrated by Al Qaeda on Great Umayyad Mosque.
In a statement, the Union condemned the attack that involved the desecration of the mosque and destroying a vault full of Quran copies which they scattered, in addition to damaging a sacred relic belonging to Prophet Mohammad.
The Union said the crimes of those who desecrated the mosque don’t involve political ends nor will it give them any influence or help them achieve the goals for which they snuck into Aleppo, stressing that the attack was an act of vengeance and a desecration of a prominent Islamic site committed by Al Qaeda, which is an alien entity that doesn’t have anything to do with the Islamic nation.
The statement wondered about the positions of Syria’s neighbors who turn a blind eye and ignore Islam which they claim to belong to.
The Union asserted that what happened in the Great Umayyad Mosque is part of the repeated attacks on Islamic Sanctities according to a methodical plan by Israel and its protector the United States.
The statement also lauded the decision by President al-Assad to form a committee to rehabilitate and restore the mosque quickly.
Ministry of Awkaf: Attack on the Great Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo a Desecration of Religion
Ministry of Islamic Endowments (Awkaf) said that the attack on the Great Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo by takfiri armed groups is a desecration of religion, considering it a grave indication of the ferocious campaign against the safety and dignity of the homeland.
In a statement on Monday, the Ministry said that the Great Umayyad Mosque of Aleppo was attacked by takfiri gangs that harmed its lofty stature as a great worshipping place, who destroyed its walls, burned its furniture and plundered its scientific and cultural riches that are unparalleled in the Arab world.”
The Ministry said that attack is part of repeated attacks against the Islamic sanctities, especially al-Quds, according to a methodical plan devised by the Zionists and the US.
The source added that the terrorist groups also made for the closet containing copies of the Holy Quran and smashed it, before making for the sacred relic that belonged to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) that was in the mosque.
”It stands to reason that this crime does not have a political goal,” the ministry said, ”The attack is intended to undercut the stature of the Mosque as one of the historic milestones and a renowned worshipping place.”
The ministry hailed President Bashar al-Assad’s decree to set up a special committee for rehabilitating the Mosque.
Terrorists Killed , Explosive Devices Dismantled in Several Provinces
Oct 15, 2012
PROVINCES, (SANA) – A military unit on Monday destroyed four cars used for transferring terrorists, weapons and ammunition and a car equipped with a machinegun, killing a number of terrorists in Bab al-Hadid area in Aleppo city.
In Aleppo city, the Armed Forces attacked terrorist gatherings near Walid Bilal Schoo;, Obeida bin al-Jarrah School, Kastal Harami Square, al-Zahrawi Souq, al-Tananir Square and other areas and inflicted heavy losses on the terrorists.
In Aleppo countryside, the Armed Forces destroyed a terrorist hideout in Oram al-Sughra and eliminated several terrorists.
The Armed Forces also attacked a terrorist gathering in Rif al-Muhandisin Farms in Aleppo countryside and destroyed a car loaded with weapons and terrorists.
Four citizens of one family, the father, mother and two sons were martyred after a mortar hit their house by a terrorist group led by terrorist Abdullah al-Hussein al-Takal, known as the Capitan at Katan area in al-Marja, Aleppo.
Terrorists Eliminated, Explosive Devices Dismantled in Damascus Countryside
A unit of the Armed Forces dismantled a number of explosive devices which were planted by armed terrorist groups on al-Asha’ri Farm road in the eastern Ghouta in Damascus Countryside.
An armed forces unit eliminated tens of terrorists and destroyed five cars they were using in the town of al-Shefouniye in the eastern part of al-Ghouta area in Damascus countryside.
Armed Forces Dismantle 2 Explosive Devices in Homs
Units of the armed forces in cooperation with the authorities dismantled two explosive devices which were planted by a terrorist group near the Sma’alil village turnpike on the Homs-Masyaf road.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that the two devices weighed 25 kilograms each.
The authorities dismantled 5 explosive devices in the same area on Sunday.
Members of an Armed group Killed in al-Khaliyda, Homs
A unit of the armed forces today killed members of an armed group in al-Khaliydea in Homs, destroying mortar launcher and DSKH machinegun.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that another Army unit has been able to kill a number of snipers at Jourat al-Shaiyah near the National Hospital in Homs, destroying a number of terrorist dens, inflicting heavy losses upon them.
Three Terrorists Killed in Hama
A army unit carried out a qualitative operation against terrorists near Tal Melh crossroads in Mhardeh area in Hama, killing 3 of them.
Terrorists Eliminated in Deir Ezzor
A unit of the Armed Forces stormed a terrorist hideout in al-Jbeileh neighborhood in Deir Ezzor and eliminated all the terrorists inside it.
Terrorist Basel al-Mustafa was identified among the dead.
A unit of the armed forces killed members of an armed terrorist group at al-Madalja neighborhood in Deir Ezzor, among the terrorists killed was Basel al-Mustafa.
Another Army unit destroyed 3 DSHK-equipped cars and killed all the terrorists inside them at al-Hussaiynea area in the city.
Three Mortar Launchers Destroyed, Terrorists Eliminated in Idleb
An armed forces unit destroyed 3 mortar launchers and 3 pickup trucks along with the terrorists inside them in an operation at Wadi al-Deif area and the town of Hamdiye in Idleb countryside. Tens of terrorists were killed in this operation.
An armed forces unit destroyed gatherings of terrorists in Ma’ar Shamsha in the countryside of Ma’aret a;-Nu’man and in the villages of Ihsem, al-Bara and Sarja in Jabal al-Zawiya area, eliminating tens of terrorists.
The armed forces also destroyed a gathering of terrorist in Ma’artamsarin, a shoulder-mounted missile, and a pickup carrying terrorists on the Hesh-Hamdiye road.
Another unit destroyed a gathering of terrorists in the town of Saraqeb, eliminating all the terrorists inside it.
Terrorists Killed, Weapons Seized in Daraa Countryside
Units of the Armed Forces destroyed a number of cars used by armed terrorist groups and killed scores of terrorists, some of them of non-Syrian nationalities in Daraa countryside.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that terrorists Abdul-Aziz al-Shummari, of Saudi nationality and al-Mo’tasen Billah Mohammad Shdeid, of Libyan nationality along with terrorists Farouq Salah al-Akeedi, Abdul-Majeed Motlaq al-Majareesh, Ali Hassan al-Houshan and Waleed Adnan al-Zahri were identified among the dead in Muhajja area in Daraa countryside.
The source said that the army destroyed several cars and terrorists command centers and arrested scores of terrorists, adding that a number of IEDs, weighting between 25-100 kg, were dismantled.
The army also seized RPG launchers, machineguns and night-vision binoculars in the areas of Ain Basha, Karm Basha and Nabe’ al-Sakhr in Daraa countryside.
The Armed Forces killed scores of terrorists, among them was Kamal Ahmad al-Houri.
General Command of Army and Armed Forces: Media Reports on Using Cluster Bombs by Syrian Army Untrue
Oct 15, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The General Command of the Army and the Armed Forces stressed on Monday that the misleading media outlets have recently published untrue news claiming the Syrian Arab Army has been using cluster bombs against terrorists.
In a statement, the General Command said the Syrian Army does not possess such bombs, stressing that those news are untrue and come in the framework of misleading media which is aimed at diverting the public opinion from the practices of the armed terrorist groups against civilians.
Lavrov Denies Claims on Using Cluster Bombs by Syria
Oct 15, 2012
MOSCOW, (SANA) – Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stressed on Monday that Syria does not use cluster bombs as human rights organizations claimed, adding that there is no evidence to prove these claims.
In a statement to journalists in Luxembourg, Lavrov pointed out that the Middle East and other countries are full of illegal weapons, adding that it is difficult to specify from where these weapons are transferred.
Lavrov: Moscow Will Demand Retrieval of Shipment Seized by Turkey From Syrian Plane
Earlier, Lavrov said that Moscow will formally demand the retrieval of the shipment seized by Turkey onboard the Syrian plane as there are no violations in its nature or documents.
In a statement after the meeting of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin with members of the Russian National Security Council, Lavrov said that Moscow is waiting for a reply from Ankara on preventing the Russian diplomats from communicating with the Russians onboard the plane while it was grounded.
Lavrov stressed that there are no secrets regarding the Syrian plane, adding that the plane was carrying radar electronic equipment of dual use and not banned by any international agreement
Russian Foreign Ministry: Journalist Kochneva who Disappeared in Syria is Ukrainian Living Permanently in Syria
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexander Lukashevich stressed that journalist Anhar Kochneva who is said to have disappeared in Syria is a Ukrainian citizen who lives permanently in Syria.
Lukashevich said in a statement that Kochneva has been in contact with several Russian TV channels, pointing out that the Russian Embassy in Damascus is exerting active efforts and coordinating with Ukrainian representatives to take necessary measures to free her.
In turn, the Ukrainian Presidential Media office announced that President Viktor Yanukovych tasked the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to inquire about the situation of Kochneva’s disappearance and to protect the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens.
Churkin: Halt of violence Priority to the International community
The Russian Envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin described the halt of violence in Syria as a priority for the international community, saying that Moscow relies on the mission of the UN Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi and on the constructive participation of the international and regional players in finding a solution to the crisis as soon as possible.
“Geneva statement on the crisis in Syria is still important.. all responsible parties have to cooperate in order to reach a solution,” Itar Tass News Agency quoted Churkin as saying on Monday.
He called on the Syrian opposition to announce adherence to Geneva Action Group’s statement on Syria, referring that the Syrian government has expressed support to this statement.
“We expect similar steps by the Syrian opposition,” Churkin added.
Al-Halqi: Optimistic about the Future…Working to Reach Free, Strong and Renewed Syria
Oct 15, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)_Prime Minister, Dr. Wael al-Halqi expressed pride in the steadfastness of the Syrian people and their rallying around the armed forces in confronting terrorism and conspiracies.
During his meeting on Monday with head of the General Union of Syrian Women, Majida Quteit, and members of the Union’s executive office, al-Halqi said “We are optimistic about the future, and working with our people and NGOs to get past the current situation and achieve the national reconciliation to paving the way from the post-crisis area and build a free, strong and renewed Syria.”
Al-Halqi reviewed the government’s efforts in rehabilitating the infrastructure, public and private properties targeted by armed terrorist groups, pointing out that these attacks harmed the sectors of health, transport and energy, not to mention historical sites and worshipping places, the latest of which was the attack on the Great Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo.
He added that the economic situation is good despite the sanctions, and all goods are available in good quantities.
Al-Halqi discussed with Quteit and members of the Union the activities of the Union and its effective role under the current events in caring for the affected families.
The meetings also tackled the Union’s work and the status of its service and development projects, especially those related to childhood development programs and women empowerment.
Al-Halqi also hailed the role of the Union in the construction and development process, underlining the government’s support to it as to enhance its role.
People’s Assembly Discusses Law of Regulating the Dental Association’s Work
Oct 15, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)_ During a session on Monday chaired by Speaker Mohammad Jihad al-Lahham, the People’s Assembly discussed the law on regulating the Dental Association’s work to be ratified later.
The members’ speeches emphasized the importance of amending the law of regulating the Association’s work as to be consistent with the new constitution and to cope with scientific development and the profession’s requirements, and achieves the best services for citizens.
Member Fadia Deeb underlined the importance of enacting a law that regulates the work of the Association in light of the development that Syria is witnessing, especially that the new constitutions has granted independence to unions so that it became imperative to amend the unions’ work law.
Member Safwan al-Qurabi underlined the importance of redrafting a new and modern law that takes into consideration all important issues in dentistry, as the number of doctors doubled and the nature of problems changed.
The Assembly also agreed to a request on the resignation of the Member Sattam al-Dandah who was nominated as Syria’s ambassador to Iraq.
The Assembly also referred the members’ questions for review.
Women, Family and Children Rights Committee at People’s Assembly Discusses Work, Objectives
The Committee of Women, Family and Children’s Rights at the People’s Assembly discussed its work plan, objectives and means to bolster its work to preserve the rights of women, Family and Children.
Head of the committee, Nahed al-Moallem, said that the committee aims at empowering women politically, culturally, socially and economically in addition to consolidate the role of women in Arab and international conferences.
She added that the committee also aims at preserving and protecting the rights if children as stipulated in the UN Children’s rights law, stressing the need to establishing Family care centers in cooperation with the Syrian Commission for Family Affairs (SCFA) in all provinces.
Women, Family and Children Rights Committee is one of four permanent committees established by the People’s Assembly in last June.
Minister of Education to (ISESCO): Organization’s Activities Concerning Syria without its Agreement Unwelcome
Oct 15, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Minister of Education, Dr. Hazwan al-Wiz, on Monday said that the activities of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) which discussed issues and files concerning Syria and called on Syrians
In a letter to ISESCO Director-General, Dr. Abdul-Aziz bin Othman Altwaijri, Minister al-Wiz said that the organization’s activities violate its charter and affect the relationship between Syria and the organization.
He pointed out that in spite of the current crisis which is hindering reform and development, the Syrian educational and scientific institutions are still playing their roles in constructing and spreading knowledge to the Syrian people.
He called on the ISESCO not to interfere in the Syrian internal affairs and not to be biased to sides linked to schemes and plots that have aggressive dimensions.
The Minister also called on the organization to depend on the information and facts which come from authentic sources offered by the Syrian authorities through official and periodical letters to the international sides and humanitarian organizations.
After the suspension of Syria’s membership, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) organized activities describing them as ’emergency activities’ in coordination with some Arab states to discuss issues concerning Syria.
Central Bank of Syria Denies Reports that it Stopped Interfering in the Syrian Market
Oct 15, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)-Governor of Central Bank of Syria Adib Mayaleh on Monday denied reports by the misleading media that the Bank has stopped to interfere and ordered the money-changing institutions to halt sale until further notice.
In a statement to SANA, Mayaleh reassured the Syrian citizens that the Central Bank has reserves of different currencies to meet the demands of the country and keep the price of Syrian pound, saying “the Central Bank of Syria is covering the trade market needs and others.”
Brahimi Denies He Suggested Sending Peacekeeping Force to Syria
Oct 15, 2012
BAGHDAD, (SANA) – UN Envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi on Monday dismissed reports alleging he suggested sending peacekeeping forces to Syria.
In a press conference held in Baghdad, Brahimi said “I didn’t propose such thing and I don’t know where this news came from, It certainly did not come from me.”
Earlier, Ahmad Fawzi, Spokesman for the UN Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi dismissed that Brahimi is setting a plan to deploy an international peacekeeping force in Syria, as the Sunday Telegraph reported earlier.
Answering a question on the creditability of a report published by the newspaper on Sunday, Fawzi said the report is baseless.
Ashton Voices Agreement with Russia over Seeking Peaceful Solution to Syrian Crisis and Supporting Brahimi’s Mission
Oct 15, 2012
LUXEMBURG, (SANA) – The European Union’s High Representative Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said on Monday that the EU shares Russia’s conviction that that solution in Syria must be peaceful.
The Italian news agency AKI said that Ashton made statements on the sideline of the regular meeting of EU foreign Ministers held on Monday in Luxemburg, with her statements commenting on the meetings between the ministers and their Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, although she didn’t give many details about the discussions during that meeting.
Ashton said that they discussed with Lavrov the latest developments in Syria and that they stressed the need to seek a peaceful solution and support the mission of UN Envoy Lakhdar Ibrahimi.
She said that the EU understand Russia’s concerns, particularly regarding the deteriorating relations between Turkey and Syria, stressing the need to work on an immediate cessation of violence inside Syria and not allowing this violence to spread.
NY Times Quoting Officials: Petraeus Deeply Involved in Supplying Gunmen in Syria
Oct 15, 2012
WASHINGTON, (SANA) – U.S. officials and Middle Eastern diplomats said that US President Barak Obama and senior officials of his administration are aware that the arms flow from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to Syria arrives to the hands of hard-line “Islamic” jihadists.
In a news report published on Sunday under the title ” Rebel Arms Flow Is Said to Benefit Jihadists in Syria,” the newspaper said that according to classified assessments of the crisis in Syria submitted to U.S. officials, ” the United States is providing intelligence and other support for shipments of secondhand light weapons like rifles and grenades into Syria, mainly orchestrated from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The shipments organized from Qatar, in particular, are largely going to hard-line Islamists”.
The newspaper quoted officials of countries in the region as saying that director of the Central Intelligence Agency, David H. Petraeus has been deeply involved in trying to steer the supply effort. The newspaper added that one Middle Eastern diplomat who has dealt extensively with the C.I.A. on the issue said that Petraeus’s goal was to oversee the process of “vetting, and then shaping, an opposition that the U.S. thinks it can work with.”
” According to American and Arab officials, the C.I.A. has sent officers to Turkey to help direct the aid, but the agency has been hampered by a lack of good intelligence about many rebel figures and factions,” NY Times said.
The newspaper questioned the White House’s strategy of minimal and indirect intervention in Syria, adding that it is sowing the seeds of future insurgencies hostile to the United States.
“American officials have been trying to understand why hard-line Islamists have received the lion’s share of the arms shipped to the Syrian opposition through the shadowy pipeline with roots in Qatar, and, to a lesser degree, Saudi Arabia.
The officials, voicing frustration, say there is no central clearinghouse for the shipments, and no effective way of vetting the groups that ultimately receive them. Those problems were central concerns for Petraeus, when he traveled secretly to Turkey last month.” The newspaper reported.
The newspaper quoted a Middle Eastern diplomat whose government has supported the Syrian gunmen as saying that his country’s political leadership was discouraged by the lack of organization and the ineffectiveness of the disjointed Syrian opposition movement. The disorganization is strengthening the hand of Islamic extremist groups in Syria, some with ties or affiliations with Al Qaeda.
“In several towns along the Turkey-Syria border, rebel commanders can be found seeking weapons and meeting with shadowy intermediaries, in a chaotic atmosphere where the true identities and affiliations of any party can be extremely difficult to ascertain. Moreover, the rebels often adapt their language and appearance in ways they hope will appeal to those distributing weapons.
For instance, many rebels have grown the long, scraggly beards favored by hard-line Salafi Muslims after hearing that Qatar was more inclined to give weapons to Islamists. The Saudis and Qataris are themselves relying on intermediaries — some of them Lebanese — who have struggled to make sense of the complex affiliations of the rebels they deal with.” The newspaper concluded.