Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Tuesday rejected an Arab League solution to the unrest sweeping his country, accusing the 22-member bloc of plotting to internationalise the crisis. “Enough of the Arab solutions from now,” Muallem told a news conference, after accusing the Arabs of “plotting” to internationalise the crisis and taking decisions while “knowing that they will be rejected” by the Syrian authorities. His remarks came after the Arab League called on President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power to his deputy and to clear the way for a unity government within two months, in a surprise weekend announcement. “We do not want Arab solutions.
We said that two days ago when we refused the initiative and when the ministers council decided to turn to the Security Council,” said Muallem. “We categorically refused (this proposal).” “The solution is a Syrian one based on the interests of the Syrian people… based on the completion of the reform program proposed by President Bashar al-Assad.” The foreign minister also stressed that Damascus’ traditional ally Russia would never accept any foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs. “No one can doubt the strength of the Russian-Syrian relationship,” based on their history and the interests of both people, Muallem said.
