Syria's dark days nearing end

An Iranian deputy foreign minister said that after nearly 3 years of crisis, the Syrian nation and government successfully have made the western meddlers and their regional allies understand that the Syrian crisis only has a Syrian solution. “Syria has successfully overcome the serious crisis and terrorists and Takfiri groups have reached the end of the line in the country,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Monday. He added that the upcoming International Geneva II Peace Conference on Syria will be a political approach to resolving the crisis in the country. “As we have repeatedly said, different sides should not make decisions for Syrians from outside the country…the ground (should be prepared) for preventing the flow of weapons and terrorists to Syria and ending violence in the country,” the Iranian official stated. “After this goal is realized, Syrians can decide for the future of their country in a democratic way and through elections,” he added. The conflict in Syria started in March 2011, when sporadic pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following the intervention of western and regional states. The unrest, which took in terrorist groups from across Europe, the Middle-East and North Africa, has transpired as one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history. As the foreign-backed insurgency in Syria continues without an end in sight, the US government has boosted its political and military support to Takfiri extremists. Washington has remained indifferent to warnings by Russia and other world powers about the consequences of arming militant groups. The UN has set January 22, 2014, as the date for an international peace conference on Syria. The conference will open in the Swiss city of Montreux on January 22, before moving to the UN office in Geneva on January 24.