Saudi FM: Assad breached all international pacts

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said on Thursday that the practices being pursued by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad against his people, especially the deliberate strikes on hospitals and civilians, have breached all international norms and treaties.

Addressing a joint press conference with the Foreign Minister of Norway Borg Prendh at the ministry headquarters in Riyadh, Jubeir said Assad has not committed himself to ceasefire or halting of hostile acts in line with the directive of the UN Security Council. “Apart from this, he is continuing to violate the UN agreement in order to provoke the opposition,” he said noting that Saudi Arabia and the international community consider this as a criminal act.

Jubeir emphasized that complying with ceasefire is a commitment that should be fulfilled so as to allow humanitarian relief to be delivered to Aleppo and thus paving the way for the political process which enables the establishment of a transitional government without any role for Assad. “This is a step that guarantees the development of a democratic Syria,” Jubeir said adding that Saudi Arabia favors Assad’s departure, which might come through political process or through a military action.

On his part, the Norwegian foreign minister said ISIS has lost vast terrain in Syria and Iraq thanks to the recent victories of the international coalition forces.