Arabnews, The 44th urgent session of the Arab Parliamentary Union Council concluded its deliberations in Syria on Sunday under the motto of “the Whole Arab Homeland is Syria.” In a final statement, the Council expressed strong condemnation over the latest Israeli aggression on Syrian lands.
It stressed complete solidarity with Syria in confrontation of the US – Israeli pressures and threats expressing its appreciation over Syria's principled stances and her keen interest to achieve “just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on UN related resolutions and Madrid terms of reference.”
The Council asserted Syria's legitimate right to defend herself and protect her lands.
It strongly denounced the US House of Representatives' approval on the so – called Syria Accountability Act considering this as a violation of international law and conventions.
The Council urged the Arab states to stand by Syria and back her in confrontation of the Israeli aggressions and US pressures calling them to give priority to establish a deterrent balanced force that obliges the Arabs' enemies to reconsider their stances.
It condemned the “US total bias in favor Israel, its defence of Israel's aggression on Syria and giving it the political coverage to such act.”
The Council backed the Syrian draft resolution submitted to the UN Security Council to make the Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction.
The Council expressed concern over Israel's continuation of violating Lebanon's water and airspaces.
Concerning the Palestinian issue, the council strongly condemned “the crimes, massacres and brutal acts perpetrated by the Israeli occupying troops against unarmed Palestinians.”
It asserted that the only way out of this critical situation and the only way of prevailing security and stability in the region is by “Israel's complete withdrawal out of the Arab occupied lands to the line of June 4th, 1967.”
Concerning Iraq, the council renewed its deep solidarity with Iraqi people expressing “concern over the deteriorating situation in Iraq and holding the US- led occupation responsible for this situation.” It called on Iraqis to enhance their national unity, run their own affairs and to protect their territorial integrity.
The Council stressed the importance for UN to play a wider role in the political process in Iraq, “particularly ending the occupation, enabling the Iraqis to select their legitimate government and boosting Iraq's stability and reconstruction.”
The council agreed on directing a cable to President Bashar al – Assad expressing the Parliamentarians' solidarity with Syria and their appreciation over President's patronage of this session.
Chairman of the Arab Parliamentary Union, Ahmad al-Taher stressed that “the Israeli aggression on the Syrian lands was a violation of the International law by an entity which hasn't proved to be a member of the human community.”
He called on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards the region. He also referred to the extremists in the United States “who support the policy of Israel's presence and security at the expense of all other powers in the Arab and the Islamic worlds.”
He called for standing by Syria and the Syrian government “till the restoration of the occupied Golan and the realization of a just peace in the region.”
For his part, Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmad Bin Hali stressed the League's support to Syria during this critical stage.
He asserted that facing the so-called Syria Accountability Act requires an Arab quick action to explain the popular Arab stance which rejects the American policy.
