President Assad - Syria unimpressed with U.S. policies
Photo: AP
Syria slams U.S. 'double standard'
Syrian foreign minister slams America, says U.S. bears full responsibly for turbulence in international arena
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem on Thursday blamed America's "double-standard" in the Middle East for the current turbulence in the world.
"The double-standard (policy) practiced against Iran and Syria is regretfully the reason for the confusion in the international arena," Moallem told reporters after meeting with former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani.
"Those who espouse such a policy should bear full responsibility for the turbulence in the international arena."
Moallem was apparently referring to the United States. His remarks came as Syria and Iran are both under heavy U.S.-led international pressures over their policies in Iraq and on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Moallem said the U.S. Pressures are because of the two countries' "stands and policies that serve their peoples' interests and do not serve hegemony and occupation."
"There is international law and international agreements and treaties, which, if applied in all world countries, would lead to a more just world," Moallem said.
Rafsanjani meets Hamas members
Rafsanjani, who arrived in Damascus Wednesday, also held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad. He met Thursday with Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otari to discuss U.S. pressures on Syria and Iran and ways of developing joint cooperation in the economic, development and cultural fields, Syria's official news agency SANA reported.
Rafsanjani also visited some Shiite religious sites in Damascus, and then met with Hamas officials to discuss U.S. and European pressure on the Palestinian group. Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, said Thursday his group would not bow to U.S. And European pressures to soften its policy toward Israel.
"Pressure is the wrong way. Hamas will not repeat mistakes committed in the past and respond to pressure to open a dialogue (with Israel) in which it couldn't clearly express the Palestinian people," Abu Marzouk told The Associated Press by phone in Damascus.
