Senior MP:

Damascus Presence in Astana Talks No Recognition of Terrorists' Legitimacy

Rasa - A senior Syrian parliamentarian underlined that participation of representatives of the Damascus government should in no way be interpreted as acceptance of legitimacy of the terrorist groups.

News ID: 426809

Date: 25 January 2017 - 18:18

RNA - "By accepting to participate in Astana negotiations, the Syrian government proved to the international community that it is the only serious side which is willing to resolve the crisis in Syria," Jamal Rabe'ah told on Wednesday.

Stressing that the Damascus presence in Astana meeting didn’t at all mean recognition of terrorists, he said the Syrian government was well aware that the opposition delegation in the peace talks were acting as puppets of terrorist groups' supporters, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and even Israel.

Rabe'ah expressed pleasure that the winning cards held by Damascus in Astana talks prevented the terrorists from imposing their preconditions, stressing that the Syrian government will undoubtedly win the imposed war in the country.

His remarks came after Iranian Supreme Leader's top aide Ali Akbar Velayati underlined that the Syria peace talks in Astana showed that all states and groups present at the meeting have accepted the Syrian government's legitimacy.

"The Astana conference showed that all sides, both Turkey and its affiliated groups and even the countries which are not present there, have accepted the Syrian government's legitimacy directly or indirectly," Velayati told reporters in Tehran on Tuesday.

"The fact that Syrians and dissident groups, excluding the ISIL and al-Nusra (recently renamed to Fatah al-Sham Front), have agreed to endorse the ceasefire and act under the rule of the Syrian government in the future was a fruitful job."

Velayati expressed the hope that the Astana meeting would establish durable ceasefire, but meantime, said, "Expectations that the meeting would resolve all the differences are not logical and correct."

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