Syria says U.N. must respect its sovereignty

The Syrian government said on Sunday that it is willing to cooperate with a resolution by the U.N. Security council to allow humanitarian crisis into the country, as long as it respects “state sovereignty.”

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement it was ready to implement resolution 2139, which was adopted unanimously by the U.N. Security Council on Saturday.

The resolution called for humanitarian aid convoys to be allowed access across the war-torn country.

According to the ministry statement, which was published by state news agency SANA, the “root causes” of the humanitarian crisis must be treated, with “foreign-backed terrorism” and sanctions placed on President Bashar al-Assad's regime by Western and Arab countries singled out.

Ready to cooperate

It added that Damascus is “ready to cooperate with the U.N. Resident Coordinator and with international humanitarian organizations working in Syria, to agree on the implementation of resolution 2139.”

It also said the resolution must be implemented “with respect for the principles laid out in the U.N. Charter, international law and the basic foundations of humanitarian work, especially state sovereignty and the role of the state, and principles of neutrality, transparency and non-politicized assistance.”

Damascus said the resolution - which condemns terror attacks by al-Qaeda-linked organizations - an “admission” by the Security Council of the presence of “extremist Al-Qaeda-linked terrorism” in Syria.

The statement described the U.N. condemnation as “a step in the right direction.”

Targeted statement

The Syrian war, which soon enters its fourth year, has claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people, according to figures released by the United Nations.

Since the uprising began in March 2011, the Syrian regime has blamed foreign-backed “terrorism” for violence in the country.

The ministry said the latest resolution “must be followed by steps to force states involved in providing financial and military support, training, refuge and arms to terrorist groups in Syria to stop supporting terrorism.”

The statement appeared to be aimed at Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, which have supported opposition forces battling Assad's army. The regime has received support from Russia, Iran and the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah.

The statement also lashed out against sanctions imposed on Syria's regime as “harming the living conditions of Syrian citizens. ”

(With AFP)