Western Media Exaggerates Chemical Weapons in Syria

Syrian President Bashir al-Assad in portrait with Nasrallah of Lebanon beneath. Assad is saying he will not leave office in the face of imperialist intervention., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Western media exaggerates chemical weapons in Syria: Syrian FM

English.news.cn 2012-07-29 21:40:57

• Syrian Foreign Minister al-Muallem said Sunday that Western media exaggerates on chemical weapons in Syria.

• He stressed "We are ready to establish a region without the weapons of mass destruction" in the Middle East.

• "Since a month ago, we have been facing such media hype from the United States and European countires," he said.

TEHRAN, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said in Tehran on Sunday that Western media exaggerates on chemical weapons in Syria.

"Since a month ago, we have been facing such media hype from the United States, European countries, and even from some Arab states. They are trying to pose the subject, and exaggerate on it, " al-Muallem said at a joint press conference with Iran's foreign minister.

"Countries like the United States, have said that Israel possesses 200 nuclear warheads, the Israelis themselves have confessed that they are in possession of nuclear weapons," he added.

Al-Muallem stressed that "We are ready to establish a region without the weapons of mass destruction" in the Middle East.

"We say, if Israel signs Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), since we are a responsible country, therefore we are (also) committed to all international regulations, " said al-Muallem.

Jihad Makdissi, the Syrian Foreign Ministry's spokesman, said last week that Syrian chemical weapons would never be used in any inner fight or against Syrian people amid the current crisis, "no matter how this crisis evolves."

Some Western officials have expressed concerns the terrorist groups might reach the Syrian chemical weapons.

Al-Muallem arrived in Tehran on Sunday for talks with senior Iranian officials.

Muallem is scheduled to hold talks with Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Saeed Jalili and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, local media reported on Sunday.

The talks focus on the recent developments in Syria as well as bilateral relations between Tehran and Damascus.

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