By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian foreign ministry officials stressed on Monday that they will not use chemical weapons against its own people, emphasizing Damascus’s commitment to UN special envoy Kofi Annan.
In a statement read by spokesman Jihad Makdissi, the chaotic Middle Eastern country said that such weapons stocks are secured and directly monitored by the Syrian Armed Forces and would only be used in cases of external aggression on the country. He added that “Syria will never use [chemical weapons] against Syrians no matter what.”
“Any chemical or biological weapons will never be used, I repeat, will never be used in the Syrian crisis, no matter what the internal developments in this crisis are,” Makdissi said at a news conference broadcast on Syrian state TV.
Syria has never confirmed its possession of chemical weapons. It is also not a signatory of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which outlaws their production.
Israel and the West are concerned that Syria might use its chemical weapons stock against neighboring Lebanon. On July 16, the most senior Syrian politician to defect told the BBC that it would not hesitate to use chemical weapons if cornered. Nawaf Al-Fares, Syria’s former ambassador to Iraq, said unconfirmed reports indicated that such weapons might have already been used. Despite this claim, Syrian rebels have not reported any use of chemical weapons.
The Arab League has previously called on Syrian President Basher Al-Assad to step down, offering him a “safe exit” from the country. Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby requested that Assad resign immediately, and offered his family safe passage out of Syria. Elaraby did not give any further details on his proposal at an Arab League foreign ministers’ meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Monday morning. Syria rejected the offer
“[W]e are sorry that the Arab League has descended to this level concerning a member state of this institution,” said Makdissi. “This decision only concerns the Syrian people, who are the sole masters of fate of their governments.”
In February, Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki offered Assad asylum if it would end the conflict. The Syrian leader has not shown any willingness to step down. In his first public statement since a devastating rebel bombing wiped out his top security officers, Assad told his new army chief of staff last Sunday to “continue that armed forces’ pursuit of terrorists.”
Meanwhile, the British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and his French counterpart called for a boost in European Union aid to tens of thousands of Syrian refugees. “We have to step up humanitarian assistance for the people fleeing,” said the Foreign Secretary as French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius added: “We must help neighboring countries.”
For further information, please see:
Al Jazeera — Syria Hints at use of Chemical Weapons — 23 July 2012
Al Manar — Syria Chemical Weapons Would be Used Only in Case of Foreign Attack — 23 July 2012
BBC — Syria ‘will not use’ Chemical Weapons on its own People — 23 July 2o12
The Telegraph — William Hague: Syrian Chemical Weapons Threat ‘Unacceptable’ — 23 July 2012
