London – Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad accused the US and Israel of ordering terrorists to forge all evidence in Khan Sheikhun, Idlib countryside, and fill up the hole created after bombing the area.
He accused Western governments of “create favorable conditions for their terrorist groups to use chemical weapons.”
Speaking at a press conference in Damascus on Monday, Meqdad reiterated that Syria destroyed all its chemical arsenal and stressed that his country will discuss counter-terrorism efforts during the coming Astana talks.
Although Syria has destroyed all its chemical arsenal, we still see attempts to attack the achievements made by the Syrian Arab Republic” Meqdad noted, before adding that “the enemies of Syria” have no other means to justify their intervention in Syria, “except this kind of cheap propaganda and cheap use of chemical weapons.”
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) issued a report confirming that Sarin gas was used in April in Khan Sheikhun killing dozens, while western countries stated that the regime is responsible for the attack and asked for international inspectors to be sent to the town.
The Syrian government is prepared to protect international inspectors and provide all necessary conditions for the OPCW visit, indicated the deputy minister.
Meqdad underlined that the Syrian government had already destroyed all of its chemical weapons overseen by a joint mission led by the United Nations and OPCW.
Regarding the Astana peace talks, Meqdad stated that consultations are going on among all involved parties.
The deputy foreign minister emphasized that representatives from the Damascus government were talking with delegates from armed opposition groups only because Syrian government authorities were seeking to establish peace and stability in the country.
He added that the talks have their own agenda and the Syrian government deals with all efforts aiming at countering terrorism, whereas the UN is calling for negotiations to discuss Resolution 2254.