Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam has stated that a new world war began in New York and Washington on September 11, 2001, and that the end of the war is unknown. During a press conference in Damascus, Khaddam condemned the attacks and the loss of innocent lives. He believes that the attack was the beginning of a war against an unknown enemy.
Khaddam considered International Resolution 1373, which is aimed at combating terrorism, as an international emergency law, which is different from other Security Council resolutions because it limits the sovereignty of states and puts them under the guardianship of the Security Council and some of its member states, which can open the door to multiple wars.
He also believed that this resolution gives Israel an international justification for striking any Arab country and the right to use force under the umbrella of international legitimacy.
Khaddam reiterated the need to hold an international conference to define terrorism and differentiate it from the struggle against occupation.
He called on Arab governments to focus their efforts on achieving this definition.
Khaddam warned that the events of September 11 would lead to reactions that could lead to a real conflict between civilizations instead of establishing a dialogue between them.
He also noted that the Arab regime has not taken the Arab-Israeli conflict seriously and is only focused on achieving narrow national interests, blocking the role of public opinion in the Arab street, and nullifying its pressure on governments and foreign pressure.
Khaddam said that the conflict is long and that the Arab side will not achieve any real gain until the Arab situation is corrected and a new Arab equivalent is built. Finally, he stated that the next government in Syria will have a long-term program in the field of economic and social development.
