President al-Assad Issues Law on Establishing Court to Look into Terrorism-linked Crimes
Jul 26, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday issued law No. 22 for 2012 on establishing a court to look into terrorism-linked issues with its headquarters in Damascus.
The law provides for the possibility of establishing more other headquarters when necessary by a decision from the Higher Judicial Council.
The court has jurisdiction over civilian and military personnel.
Minister of Justice Radwan al-Habib said the anti-terrorism law No 19 includes putting appropriate legal rules for the high-risk crimes in a way that achieves a balance between the rights of the citizens to guarantee their freedom and dignity and the right of the state to protect its integrity and preserve its higher interests.
Terrorists Suffer Heavy Losses in Aleppo, Deir Ezzor, Hama and Daraa
Jul 27, 2012
PROVINCES, (SANA) – Units from the armed forces on Thursday clashed with armed terrorist groups in Salah Eddin and al-Sukari neighborhoods in Aleppo.
An official source told SANA reporter that the clash resulted in killing and wounding a large number of terrorists.
The source added that terrorists Mohammad Saleh Afir and Mazen Aqrae were identified among the dead.
Syrian Armed forces carry out qualitative operations in al-Yarmouk and al-Hajar al-Aswad, kill terrorists and wound scores
The Syrian Army units today pursued the defeated terrorists in al-Yarmouk neighborhood in Damascus.
The Army forces carried out a qualitative and courageous operation as the terrorists were spreading inside the populated areas and taking civilians as human shields.
The competent authorities pursued the terrorists in al-Yarmouk and al-Hajar al-Aswad popular neighborhoods, killing a big number of mercenaries who destroyed private and public properties, terrified citizens and broke off roads.
In al-Kiswa, Damascus countryside, an army unit stormed a den used by an armed terrorist group in one of the farms.
The Unit clashed with the terrorists who were hiding inside the den, killing and injuring several terrorists, confiscating their weapons which included a number of rifles and explosive devices.
Three citizens martyred in a train derail by an act of terrorists
In al-Raka, an armed terrorist group removed the beams of a railway that links between al-Raka and Aleppo, leading to the derail of a train with three civilians martyred and several others wounded
5 Terrorists Killed, 10 Others Wounded in Deir Ezzor
Authorities in Deir Ezzor clashed with terrorists in al-Bukamal city, killed 5 terrorists and wounded 10 others, in addition to destroying a pick-up truck equipped with a machinegun and another car carrying weapons and ammunition.
A source in the province said that two terrorists were killed in an explosive device blast as they were planting it near Omar Bin al-Khattab Mosque in the city.
Authorities Clash with Terrorists in Hama, Storm Terrorist Hideout, Seize Large Amount of Weapons
Authorities clashed with a number of terrorists who were trying to kidnap a family from al-Elaiyat town in Hama countryside.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that the terrorists suffered heavy losses, adding that the body of the terrorist Safwan Abu Eisheh was identified.
On Wednesday, the authorities, in cooperation with the locals, stormed a hideout of an armed terrorist group in the same town, arresting its members and seizing large amounts of weapons.
A source in the province said that the seized weapons included 41 automatic guns, 9 sniper rifles, 17 RPGs and 3 RPG launchers, 6 pump-action rifles, 84 bullet chargers , hand-made rocket, 43 bags, 50 gas masks, large amount of grenades, 12 wireless transmitters and 2 Inmarsat satellite transmitters, in addition to seizing a field hospital with stolen medical equipment.
Authorities kill terrorists in Idleb, Daraa countryside
The competent authorities clashed today with armed terrorist groups in Idleb countryside, inflicting heavy losses among terrorists.
An official source in Idleb told SANA reporter that among the killed known were Tarek Aboud al-Sayyid, Mohammad Fawaz al-Khateeb and Adnan al-Khateeb.
In Daraa countryside, the authorities, in cooperation with the families pursued an armed terrorist group and clashed with it.
Among the terrorists killed were Abdul-Rahman al-Nadaf and Mohammad Biki.
Authorities Confront Terrorist Attack in Daraa
In Daraa, authorities confronted an attack by an armed terrorist group against law-enforcement forces which resulted in killing terrorist Audi Kaed al-Fawwaz, a leader of one of the armed terrorist groups, and wounding others.
Authorities in Bosra al-Sham clashed with terrorists, killing an Arab terrorist and wounding others.
Foreign Ministry: Ambassador al-Dabbagh Was off Duty in Abu Dhabi since June 4th
Jul 27, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- Foreign and Expatriates Ministry stressed that Syria’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abdullatif al-Dabbagh, has been off duty in Abu Dhabi since June 4th and Lamia al-Hariri has never held the title of Ambassador to Cyprus.
The Ministry referred in a statement on Thursday to media reports over the past two days in relation to employees at the Ministry who chose to leave their posts at diplomatic missions and head to an Arab country which has undertaken funding and encouraging these types of employees to defect from their homeland in return for offers that have become known to all and been rejected before by many inside and outside the Ministry.
The statement clarified that Abdullatif al-Dabbagh is Syria’s Ambassador to the UAE who is currently under review in Damascus upon the Ministry’s request for consultation and has been off duty in Abu Dhabi since June 4th.
The statement added that Lamia al-Hariri has never held the title of Syria’s Ambassador as she is a diplomat working at the Syrian Embassy in Cyprus and assigned with managing the Embassy’s affairs until an ambassador or charge d’affaires is appointed.
The Ministry’s statement also clarified that Mohammad Tahsin al-Faqir does not hold any diplomatic title as he is an administrative employee at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry and works at the Syrian Embassy in Oman.
It added that al-Faqir’s mission at the Embassy was terminated by law no. 129 issued on May 21, 2012 and he is now waiting for retirement within a month, noting that al-Faqir does not hold any security status.
The Foreign Ministry said in its statement that it has taken the legal, behavioral and diplomatic measures towards the mentioned employees, stressing that all the embassies concerned are working uniformly and unremittingly to serve the Syrian nationals in the countries concerned
Ladsous.. Finding political solution to the Crisis in Syria through process led by the Syrians
Jul 26, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)-United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous announced the UN Observer Mission’s commitment to carrying out the Security Council Resolution No. 2059 which extended the mandate of the International Monitors’ Mission UNSMIS for 30 days.
“The UN, and particularly the UNSMIS under its new leadership, headed by General Babacar Gaye are committed to carrying out the Security Council decision.. as you know, it is a short mandate to re-evaluate the situation at the end of August,” Ladsous said at a press conference in Damascus following two-day meetings with officials from the Syrian government and figures from the opposition.
He clarified that when the situation improves, members of the Mission who left to their countries will return to their tasks.
Ladsous said that the aim of the UN is to contribute to stopping the violence, calling on all sides to exert efforts to put an end to violence and help apply the six-point plan of the UN Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan.
“One of the tasks of UNSMIS is to contribute to facilitating resumption of dialogue, particularly in specified local circumstances, and to put a vision that could help find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria, led by the Syrians themselves,” Ladsous concluded.
Stability and security Restored to al-Dhiyabia, Families Return Home
Jul 26, 2012
DAMASCUS COUNTRYSIDE, (SANA)- Members of the Syrian Army forces and Law enforcement restored security and stability to al-Dhiyabia neighborhood in al-Sayida Zainab, Damascus countryside after purifying the area from the mercenaries who carried out acts of sabotage, burning private and public cars, breaking off roads and terrifying the innocents.
The authorities killed a big number of terrorists and injured scores of them in addition to confiscating their weapons and ammunitions.
With the coming of the Army members to the area, some families started to return to their houses, feeling safe and secure.
“The terrorists were braking off roads, terrifying people by weapons and hiding their faces.. the people felt danger and were forced to flee their homes.. when we returned, we saw chaos and destruction,” Yousef al-Shumari said.
Batoul al-Shumari who returned two days ago underlined that the terrorists “confiscated the life.. there were no more joy or happiness.. were we seized inside our houses, but now we feel safe with the presence of the army.”
Other citizens underlined that they are cleaning the streets and they feel secure, adding that conditions are improving, stressing that mercenaries were opening fire, storming houses and looting shops and cars.
Tehran Opposes any Foreign intervention in Syria’s domestic affairs
Jul 26, 2012
TEHRAN, (SANA)-Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili underlined that Iran strongly opposes any foreign intervention in the Syrian domestic affairs.
Meeting the Syrian Deputy Prime Minister for Services Affairs and Local Administration Minister Omar Ghalawanji and the accompanying delegation , Jalili condemned the misleading media campaigns and the pressures to which Syrian is exposed, stressing that Syria will win and come out of the crisis stronger.
“Iran supports Syria, as leadership and government, in the face of foreign pressures,”Jalili said, calling for developing the bilateral relations in all fields.
Ghalawanji said that the aim of the Syrian delegation’s visit to Iran is to get acquainted with the Iranian expertise in all sectors, particularly in economy and services.
“We discussed the technical issues.. and ways to develop bilateral cooperation in all domains, particularly in the fields of electricity, water, health and housing,” Ghalawanji added.
Al-Jaafari: International Abstention from Subjecting Israel to Accountability Encourages Its Hostility
Jul 26, 2012
NEW YORK, (SANA)- Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr. Bashar al-Jaafari, said there is a methodical Israeli pattern of violations and practices that contradict the minimum of the human rights principles and the international humanitarian law which some refrain from subjecting Israel to international accountability.
Delivering Syria’s statement during an open Security Council session on Wednesday discussing ‘The Situation in the Middle East’ item, al-Jaafari lashed out against the efforts of providing cover for failure in finding a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict due to the Israeli obstinacy through interjecting other unrelated issues such as the false claims brought up by some Arab delegations against Syria.
He expressed deep concern over the frenzied effort of some delegations to repeatedly deviate the Council deliberations regarding from the main objective behind which it was founded which is ending Israel’s occupation of the Arab territories and settling the Arab-Israeli conflict according to the known peace references.
The Syrian Ambassador pointed out that he sent to the UN Secretary General and the Security Council complaints of all the Israeli violations in the form of a number of official letters, the latest of which was on July 17th 2012, which “fell on deaf ears”.
Collusive Approach”of UN General Secretariat Representatives Encourages Israel’s Hostility
He blasted the UN General Secretariat representatives’ overlooking of discussion of the situation in the occupied Syrian Golan and ignoring of the Israeli War Minister’s latest threat of launching an aggression on Syria.
He stressed that the “constant and flagrant collusive approach” of the UN General Secretariat representatives is a clear violation of their duties in periodically updating the Security Council members on the latest developments in Golan, adding that this has encouraged Israel in going on with its hostile policies.
Terrorist Groups Are Sheltered and Funded by Some Parties in Lebanon
Al-Jaafari underscored the firmness of the Syrian-Lebanese relations in the face of the efforts to undermine these relations, considering that the problem lies in the fact that some Lebanese parties are providing funds, arms and shelter to the armed groups to carry out terrorist activities in Syria.
He said that these activities are being carried out under direct military, financial and media support from Qatar and Saudi Arabia and other countries such as the US and France.
Qatar and Saudi Representatives Shed Crocodile’s Tears for the Syrians
“Crocodile’s tears were shed by the representatives of Qatar and Saudi Arabia for the ‘suffering of the Syrian People’, whose blood has been around the clock shed by the Qatari-Saudi conspiracy through their direct military, information, financial, political and diplomatic intervention,” al-Jaafari added.
He pointed out that the Saudi and Qatari diplomacy should have backed the UN envoy to Syria Kofi Annan’s plan and Geneva document instead of pushing for escalation against Syria and its interests in the UN General Assembly following their failure in the UN Security Council, citing the hysterical campaign of the al-Jazeera and al-Arabyia satellite channels, not to mention the statements by Saudi and Qatari officials.
Ambassador al-Jaafari called on the Saudi and Qatari governments to immediately work to respond to the demands of their people and their opposition inside and outside their respective countries, citing, for example, the oppression of the Saudi civilians by the Saudi security and military authorities in Qatif and al-Awamyia regions, and the just demands by more than 250 Qataris from the opposition calling for halting of the spending of the Qatari people money for conspiring against Arab and Islamic people.
He reiterated that neither Qatar nor Saudi Arabia could be talken as an example when it comes to talking about democracy.
Lavrov: Russia Hopes to Extend UN Observer Mission after 30-day Mandate Expires in August
Jul 26, 2012
MOSCOW, (SANA) – Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, expressed hope to prolong the mission of the UN observers in Syria after the 30-day mandate expires in August and that the UN Security Council to increase the number of its members.
In a joint press conference with its Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremić following their talks in Moscow on Thursday, Lavrov expressed Russia’s readiness to send 30 observers to join the UN observer mission in Syria.
He stressed the need for the observers to work on points of disagreement between the government and the opposition, calling upon all sides to comply with the UN Security Council’s call to ensure the safety of the observers.
The Russian Foreign Minister said that “as long as some countries still support the armed Syrian opposition, establishing humanitarian corridors or what is called security zones in Syria is out of question.” He said that Russia received no information, directly or through the UN Secretariat, on the Arab League’s intention to call for an emergency session of the UN General Assembly to discuss the issue of humanitarian corridors or security zones in Syria.
In turn, Jeremic, who was elected as Chairman of the UN General Assembly, said that he doubted the need to implement such procedures in Syria, adding that Serbia, from its own experience, knows that such steps are not always useful.
Haidar: Ministry Is Ready to Help in Solving Obstacles Hindering the UN Observer Mission’s Work
Jul 26, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Minister of State for National Reconciliation Affairs, Ali Haidar, stressed the Ministry’s readiness to contribute to solving all obstacles hindering the UN supervision mission’s work so that they would have an active role to act upon their sincere intentions to halt violence and hold all the parties involved in the violence on the ground accountable.
Haidar was speaking to the journalists after his meeting with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Herve Ladsous, head of the UN supervision mission in Syria, Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye.
The meeting dealt with the prospects of the political process required to achieve real national reconciliation in Syria.
Haidar said that he suggested during the discussion a previously presented proposal which is to include 10000 highly-qualified Syrian volunteers in the UN mission’s field work so as for the mission to affirm its seriousness and good intentions.
He wondered about the reason of sending a monitoring team to Syria without adopting its reports at the UN Security Council, adding that had the reports of the former head of the UN observer mission, General Robert Mood, been adopted, there would have been an entirely different international position.
Minister Haidar said that if the UN Security Council had a real desire to achieve the interests of the Syrian people and if it was professional and neutral, it should give the mission its real role and refrain from adopting reports submitted by unknown people or by media that are part of the war on Syria with the aim of giving the precedence for these countries’ viewpoints and take the UN Security Council away from the interests of the Syrian people.
He stressed that halting the violence and moving towards a political process is a Syrian will in the first place, adding that the Syrians agreed on Annan’s plan as he expressed an international will that came in line with their will to get the homeland out of the crisis.
He indicated the importance of providing all requirements to make a success of the project of shifting to a political process that serves Syria’s interest, stressing that the most important of which is to halt violence.
Syria Participates in London 2012 Olympic Games to Kick Off Tomorrow
Jul 26, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Syria participates in the 30th edition of London 2012 Olympic Games to be held between July 27th to August 12th along with more than 10000 athletes representing 204 National Olympic Committees.
This is Syria’s largest participation since Moscow Olympic Games in 1980.
The Syrian mission consists of 28 individuals including 10 athletes:
Ahmad Hamsho in equestrian
Wessam Salamaneh in boxing
Ahed Joughili ( Men’s -105 kg) and Thuraia Sobh (Women’s -75 kg) in weightlifting
Majed Eddin Ghazal ( high jump) and Ghfran Almouhamad (400 m hurdles) in athletics.
Azad Al-Barazi (100 m breaststroke) and Bayan Joumaa ( 100 m freestyle) in swimming.
Raya Zein Eddin in shooting and Omar Hassanin in cycling.
The opening ceremony will be marked with the the arrival of the Olympic flame for the lighting of the cauldron at 9:00 pm according to the local time in London, signifying the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.