Syria Slams France Interference in Internal Affairs

Local Editor

The Syrian Foreign Ministry urged the French government to stop interfering in Syria's internal affairs, noting that the amnesty decree issued by President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday comes at the eve of the anniversary of the evacuation of French occupiers from Syria.
"The Syrian people will not permit France to return to Syria through its support of the armed terrorist groups which it commands to shed Syrian blood," the ministry confirmed.

It further mentioned that France has no right to evaluate a Syrian internal issue.

On Tuesday, al-Assad issued an amnesty decree offering pardons or lighter sentences to army deserters and certain categories of smugglers.
 
France denounced the move as a "deceptive maneuver".

"We should be rejoicing. But this regime has made us grow accustomed to its deceptive maneuvers," said foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot.
Meanwhile, Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mikdad accused Britain and France of being complacent about supporting al-Qaeda directly or indirectly.
Mikdad described the UK and France as "new colonialists" for giving political and military support to the armed groups in Syria.

The Syrian official also criticized Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar for acting to ensure Western interests. He further hoped Jordan would not boost its involvement in the unrest in Syria.

"The same forces that are killing innocent people in Syria are in Jordan too... We have stupid Arabs who are facilitating what the others are planning for the region. But the conspiracy begins in the west," he added.

The French mandate of Syria began in 1923, after the collapse of the Ottoman empire. France evacuated its last soldiers on April 17, 1946.

Source: News agencies, Edited by moqawama.org