Iran Criticizes AL For Double-Standard Towards Syria, Bahrain, Yemen

Tehran, Dec 21, IRNA – Deputy Foreign Minister for Middle East and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Tuesday criticized the Arab League for double- standard toward the events in Bahrain, Yemen and Syria. He told IRNA that hasty reaction of the Arab governments toward unrest in Bahrain, Yemen and Syria are in fact satisfying Tel Aviv and Washington. Amir Abdollahian said that the US scenario about Syria was dead from the beginning, but, 'unfortunately the Arab League is working in a way to serve the goals of Washington and Tel Aviv in the Middle East.' He said that currently there is not a major anti-Syria plan by the Arab League, but, the media of the Arab states have waged a concerted propaganda campaign against Syria at the behest of Washington and Tel Aviv. Amir Abdollahian said that the Arab states are currently exercising vigilance not to fall into trap of Washington and Tel Aviv over the unrest in Syria. He said that the US officials are magnifying the events taking place in Syria and certain Arab states are taking hasty actions on that direction which run counter to realities on the ground in Syria. 'In Syria, there are public demands from the government, and President Bashar al-Assad is carrying out a reform program to satisfy them, but, the unrest are restricted to one or two border cities where weapons are smuggled by terrorists.' He said that the precise information on confrontation of the insurgents with government troops showed that the majority of casualties are inflicted on the government troops by the terrorists. He compared the Syrian nation to those of Tunisia and Egypt and said that the Syrian people are proud of being in the forefront of resistance to Israeli aggression, but, the people of Tunisia and Egypt were ashamed of their governments which were toeing the US line vis-à-vis Israeli aggression. The deputy foreign minister who has just come back from the Middle East tour, said that a belief is gaining momentum among the Arab governments that they must review their Syrian policy and consider the reform program being carried out by President Basher al-Assad. Amir Abdollahian said in the meantime that independent policy of every Arab state on Syria is away from that of the Arab League in light of their national and security considerations. He said that in his negotiations with officials of Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman Sultanate, he advised them to get rid of the media campaign against the Syrian government and consider the facts on the ground. 'The Arab governments must take into account that the Syrian government is on the front-line of resistance to Israeli occupation and the media affiliated to the Zionist regime are misportraying the developments in Syria.'/end