Iran Calls on World Nations to Prepare Grounds for Fair Elections in Syria
di Redazione
(FNA) – Iran said that holding fair elections is the best way to respect the Syrian people’s right of self-determination, and called on the world nations to pave the ground for fair elections in the crisis-hit country.
“We should respect the Syrian people’s opinion about determining their fate, and thus, the best criterion for respecting the Syrian nation’s rights is fair election in proper conditions so that they could choose any (political) stream they want for their future”, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast said on Monday.
“All countries are required to prepare the conditions in which the Syrian people can express their opinion in a fair election,” he told Al Alam Arab language TV network, and added, “We should prevent foreign intervention and prepare the ground for national dialogue and not allow any other country to make decisions instead of the Syrian nation”.
“The solution to Syria’s problems is political and all sides should provide help in this regards”, the Iranian spokesman said, adding that other countries should use their influence on rebel groups to establish stability and tranquility in Syria.
Last week, an Iranian deputy foreign minister said opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad are insisting on his resignation because they are well-aware of Assad’s strong public support and his high chance in any Presidential elections in Syria.
“Some sides are insisting that Bashar Assad should resign first and other issues should be dealt with after that, because they know that if Assad becomes a candidate in any presidential election he will win the votes and since they are confident about Bashar Assad’s strong public support, they are insisting that Assad should step down right now”, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian told Al Alam.
“Foreign sides are insisting on Assad’s stepping down from the power because they are fearful of Assad’s victory in any such election”, he reiterated.
The senior Iranian diplomat further voiced Iran’s support for democratic process in Syria, and said these are “the people of Syria who should decide” how long the presidential term and who should be their president.
“We will respect whatever the Syrian nation approves in a democratic process and based on the country’s constitution, whether it be Assad’s stay in power or election of a new person,” he stressed.
In Syria, President Assad on Sunday announced a peace plan on Sunday, and called for a reconciliation conference with “those who have not betrayed Syria”, to be followed by the formation of a new government and an amnesty.
“The first stage of a political solution would require that regional powers stop funding and arming (the opposition), an end to terrorist operations and controlling the borders”, he said in a speech in Central Damascus, his first public comments in months.
“We will not have dialogue with a puppet made by the West”, he said.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country.
The US and its western and regional allies have long sought to topple Assad and his ruling system. Media reports said that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States.
