World Condemns Trump’s Statement over Golan

By Staff, Agencies

The Syrian government, and many other foreign powers, condemned on Friday US President Donald Trump's statement that it was time to recognize the ‘Israeli’ sovereignty over the Golan Heights, saying Syria was determined to recover the area "through all available means."

Trump tweeted on Thursday it was time to recognize ‘Israeli’ sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

In a statement published by the Syrian state news agency, a foreign ministry source said Trump's statement showed "the blind bias of the United States" towards ‘Israel.’

It did not change "the reality that the Golan was and will remain Syrian, Arab," the source said.

"The Syrian nation is more determined to liberate this precious piece of Syrian national land through all available means," the source said, adding that Trump's statement was "irresponsible" and showed "contempt" for international law.

The European Union underlined it does not recognize the Zionist entity’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights on Friday after Trump moved to do so for the territory viewed by European allies as occupied.

"The position of the EU has not changed," an EU spokeswoman told Reuters.

"The European Union, in line with international law, does not recognize ‘Israel's’ sovereignty over the territories occupied by ‘Israel’ since June 1967, including the Golan Heights."

The Golan Heights is Syrian territory occupied by ‘Israel’, German government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer commented on Friday when asked about Trump's call to recognize ‘Israeli’ sovereignty over the area.

"If national borders should be changed it must be done through peaceful means between all those involved.”

"The government rejects unilateral steps," she added.

Trump's statement has brought the region to the edge of a new crisis, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan commented on the same issue.

In a speech at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Erdogan said, "we cannot allow the legitimization of the occupation of the Golan Heights."

The Kremlin also said there was a hope that Trump's call to recognize ‘Israeli’ sovereignty over the Golan Heights would remain just a call, and not be enacted.