Signing AL protocol by preserving Syrian sovereignty

In a press conference held Monday al-Moallem said "we and the AL Secretary General relied on a mutual friend who was a legal expert and the Secretary General agreed on making some amendments on the text of Protocol's draft in which we sensed keenness on our national sovereignty and coordination of the mission's work with the government.

"We agreed on several Syrian additions, depending on that the Arab Ministerial Committee met in Doha to approve the amendments which were in the heart of the protocol," al-Moallem added, noting that the protocol provides for implementing the first article of the Arab work plan.

The Minister said that those who wants the interest of the Syrian people do not impose economic sanctions on them and seek internationalization.

He stressed that signing the protocol is the start of cooperation between Syria and the Arab League, and that "Syrian sovereignty was preserved in the heart of the protocol signed with the AL General-Secretariat," the Minister said.

He emphasized that "there is no change in Russia's position and the coordination is always existed between us. They were advising us to ink the protocol and we did."

Al-Moallem stressed that Signing the protocol is a pure national decision that announces the start of our dealing with the Arab League and we welcome the AL observers' mission.

"We want to come out of the crisis through building modern and safe Syria that is an example for democracy and plurality and all contributions are welcome," he said.

He stressed that the Syrian leadership takes decisions that preserve and serve the Syrian people's interests.

Al-Moallem said that there is no communication with the Turkish side due to the Justice and Development Party's one-eyed views that led it to impose sanctions against Syria and embrace groups which don't want the interest of Syria.

He pointed out that the reports of the AL mission will be set both to the Secretary General and to Syria, and that they will be discussed before taking any other action according to the protocol and the Syrian amendment.

"The observer mission will be protected by the Syrian state and free to move… coordination with the Syrian government will take place via a national committee which will be formed to be a connection between the mission and the Syrian government," al-Moallem explained.

He stressed that the political solution is based on national dialog and national reconciliation, noting that some of the opposition abroad rejects dialogue.

Al-Moallem said "We will be serious, objective and professional in dealing with the observers' mission which will have a time of one month that can be extended for one more month only with the approval of the two parties."

He added that "We welcome every sincere Arab effort to resolve the crisis and the observers will see that there are armed terrorist groups wreaking havoc and killing people."

Al-Moallem hoped that the AL will help find a solution for the Syrian crisis rather than being a burden on it.

He said that the internationalization of the economic sanctions is unlikely and that there were talks about military action which Syria also excluded and said that it won't happen.

"We don't fear the internationalization issue as the West and some Arabs' intentions are revealed and won't exceed the economic sanctions."

The Minister said that the protocol provides for visiting hotspots, not sensitive military bases. We will allow the journalists to enter hoping that they will be honest and professional.