Russia helps Syria reclaim 20% lost territory: al-Moualem

India is not a player in the West Asian crisis, although it has traditionally had very good relations with most of the parties involved, including Syria. But it has faced terrorist attacks for over two decades and, when Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Walid al-Moualem came calling on the Indian leadership and offered “security and intelligence cooperation,” the Indian government was happy to accept.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday evening, after his official talks were over, the Syrian DPM and Foreign Minister said he had not sought any troops or military assistance from India, but wanted to “urgently revive the bilateral economic relationship.” India has a variety of projects in Syria but they have all been stalled since the hostilities erupted. He also said he believed India “deserved to be part of the solution in Syria.”

According to sources, Syria has offered India “priority ranking” to come in after the hostilities are over and help in the reconstruction and rebuilding of the war-shattered country.

Asked how Russian aerial intervention in Syria had affected the conflict, al-Moualem was thankful and appeared optimistic that the end to the conflict was possibly in sight.

“We are closely coordinating with the Russian Air Force and, with their help, we have recovered 20% of lands from the terrorists,” he said. “Going by the experience of these three months, Russia stands to achieve 10 times more than the US did in 18 months,” the Minister said.

“Syrian-Russian cooperation has succeeded in good measure,” the visiting Syrian minister said. “It is not only against terrorism for us, but also self-defence for the Russians. Thousands of Chechens are fighting in Syria with ‘Daesh,’” he said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State while referring to ISIS.

Scathing in his remarks against Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Al-Moualem said, “if Turkey, Saudi and Qatar stop interfering and helping the terrorists, then 70% of the problem will be ended,” and the hostilities can be brought to an end.

However, given the successes the Syrian forces have achieved along with Russian aerial backing, he said the Saudis would step up aid to the terrorists. “Saudis will raise their help to terrorists of ‘Daesh’ and will prevent the Geneva talks from succeeding.”

Speaking about Turkey’s President (Recep) Erdogan, al-Moualem said he “harbours dreams about reviving the Ottoman empire” and had “betrayed” Syria by encouraging terrorists from over 100 countries to enter and fight in Syria. “But Erdogan’s dreams are an illusion,” he said. “He did not realise that helping terrorists would come back to hit him, and other states supporting terrorism.”

The minister stated that the Turkish demand for a ‘no fly zone’ over Syria “cannot happen, especially after Russia’s aerial entry into the Syrian war.”

The Syrian Deputy PM was categorical in stating that his government would not accept any outside interference in deciding the future of Syria. “We have told (Staffan) de Mistura that there can be no pre-conditions for the talks in Syria. We will not accept any outside plan to decide the future of Syria. Only Syrians will decide their future, on the basis of their Constitutional and democratic values.”

Speaking of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which were in the forefront of the anti-ISIS operations, both Russia and the United States, al-Moualem said, were now supporting the SDF, mostly made up of members of Arab tribes, Kurds, Syrians and Christians, against ‘Daesh’.

Indian FM pleased with Russian progress in anti-ISIS campaign

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