S.Africa Deputy President: We reject issuing any resolution against Syria

Deputy President of South Africa Kgalema Motlanthe affirmed on Monday that his country, which is currently a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), will not agree to issuing any resolution against Syria, reiterating his country's rejection of any interference in Syria's internal affairs or conspiring against it. During a meeting with Syrian Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad, Motlanthe said that South Africa supports the reforms undertaken by President Bashar al-Assad on various levels, particularly in the fields of politics and legislations, saying that they will create a new reality in Syria that meets the hopes and aspirations of its people. The Deputy President affirmed the need to boost relations between the two countries, underlining Syria's pivotal role in the Middle East peace process, particularly in regards to the Palestinian cause. In turn, Dr. Mikdad gave a detailed briefing regarding the attack on Syria by terrorist and extremist forces that seek to undermine its role and stability supported by an unprecedented media campaign based on fabrication of news, distortion of facts and misleading public opinion in the region to serve external agendas. He also talked about the heinous crimes committed by armed terrorist groups against innocent civilians and army and police forces who were carrying out their duties in defending innocent civilians and public and private property, pointing out to the atrocities committed recently in Hama, Homs, Deir Ezzor and Jisr al-Shughour by these groups. Dr. Mikdad also held a meeting with Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ebrahim Ebrahim and explained to him the developments in Syria and the challenges facing it due to the terrorist and media campaign against it. He reviewed the reforms taking place in Syria on all levels, which include lifting the state of emergency, issuing a law permitting peaceful process, the political parties law, and the general elections law, in addition to several laws and legislations that are being prepared and will be issued soon such as the media law and the local administration law. For his part, Deputy Minister Ebrahim affirmed his country's firm stance regarding developments in Syria and rejecting foreign interference in its internal affairs, stressing Syria's pivotal role in the Middle East. After the meeting, the Deputy Ministers held a press conference during which they discussed regional issues and answered questions, with Dr. Midkad stressing the need for mass media to report facts and not to falsify events and fabricate news since this constitutes direct support for extremism and terrorism. He also detailed the reforms announced by President al-Assad which will make Syria an example of political pluralism and freedom of media