Ambassador Aala: Unilateral coercive measures , foreign occupation obstruct removing landmines in Syria
Geneva, SANA- Hussam Edin Aala, Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the UN Office at Geneva, affirmed today that meeting the humanitarian objectives stipulated in the Landmine Convention requires respecting the basic pillars on which the Convention was built, in particular, national ownership of mine clearance operations, strengthening international assistance and cooperation, and providing financial resources and technology away from political conditionality.
Ambassador Aala’s statement was made during the 20th meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines currently held at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva.
Aala demanded the immediate and unconditional lifting of Western unilateral coercive measures, and support for Syria’s efforts to clear all of its territory from mines, terrorism and foreign occupation.
“the participation of the Syrian Arab Republic in this meeting confirms its priority in saving the lives of its citizens from the dangers of mines and explosive ordnance left behind by the armed terrorist groups in their former areas of control during the terrorist war waged by these groups against Syria,” Aala added.
He added that the Syrian Arab Army managed, with available capabilities, to remove more than 50,000 explosive devices, 84,000 unexploded ordnance and 45,000 mines of various types, as well as clear more than 55,000 hectares of mines and ammunition.
Fedaa al-Rhayiah / MHD Ibrahim
