Maltese FM Stresses Iranˈs Constructive Role In Syrian Crisis

Tehran, Feb 1, IRNA -- Maltese Foreign Minister George W. Vella reiterated Iranˈs influential role in settling the regional crises. ˈIran plays a constructive role in settling regional crisis, specially Syrian crisis,ˈ the Maltese foreign minister said in a meeting with Iranian Accredited Ambassador to Malta Jahanbakhsh Mozaffari in the Maltese capital of Valletta on Friday. Iranian officials have repeatedly underlined that Tehran is in favor of negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition groups to create stability in the Middle Eastern country. In November 2012, Iran hosted a meeting between the representatives of the Syrian government and opposition to encourage them to start talks to find a political solution to their problems. The National Dialogue Conference kicked off work in Tehran mid November with the motto of ˈNo to Violence, Yes to Democracyˈ. The meeting brought together almost 200 representatives of various Syrian ethnicity, political groups, minorities, the opposition, and state officials. Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs and terrorists against both the army and civilians. Tens of thousands of people have been killed since terrorist and armed groups turned protest rallies into armed clashes. The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad./end