Former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam criticized UN envoy Kofi Annan’s call for dialogue between the Syrian opposition and the regime amid continued shelling of civilian neighborhoods by the Syrian army.
Khaddam told the Turkish newspaper “Hurriyet” on Sunday, “The Syrian opposition and the Syrian people, who remain under artillery shelling without electricity and water, cannot agree to Kofi Annan’s call for dialogue with the Assad regime.”
Khaddam emphasized the need to hold all Assad regime officials responsible for the mass killing of the Syrian people, adding that “Assad’s maneuvers cannot weaken or deceive the Syrian people’s challenge to his regime. Their challenge will continue until the regime falls, and the officials involved in the crimes are brought to justice to receive their fair punishment.”
He pointed out that the number of military personnel defecting from the Syrian army to Turkey is increasing day by day.
Khaddam explained that Iran and Russia share a common goal and strategy in Syria, which is to “keep the West away from the Middle East to control the rich resources in the region. Russia is trying to reassert its control over the region through Syria after the Soviet Union era.”
Khaddam also mentioned that Iran aims to extend its influence and control over a strategic area stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the borders of Afghanistan through Syria and Lebanon.