Tehran criticizes Arab League decision to suspend Syria

TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (MNA) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast said that the Arab League’s decision to suspend Syria’s membership will complicate matters. The Arab League suspended Syria at a meeting in Cairo on November 12. Of the Arab League’s 22 members, 18 voted to suspend Syria, with Iraq abstaining and Yemen and Lebanon opposing the plan. Syria itself was not allowed to vote. Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Monday, Mehmanparast said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the need to take into consideration the course of events in various regional countries and to refrain from adopting double-standard policies and approaches and to prevent foreign intervention and believes that the Arab League statement on the developments in Syria will not only not help resolve the issue but will also complicate the situation.” “Therefore, it is essential that the necessary measures be taken to help improve peace and stability (in Syria) in order to realize the potential for dialogue,” he added. “The fact that the Arab League statement was issued while extra-regional powers were making efforts to interfere in the internal affairs of Syria” should be noted, Mehmanparast said, adding that efforts should be made to facilitate the successful implementation of the reforms that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has introduced.