Muallem speaks to press against Arab League sanctions

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem held a press conference on Monday in Damascus to speak against the Arab League sanctions .

Muallem  tackled the latest developments in Syria and the economic sanctions adopted by the Arab Foreign Ministers against the Syrian regime on Sunday. He blamed the Arab League for turning their back on Syria, refusing to listen to their views on the Syrian situation, and touching on reforms that the government is currently carrying out.

Speaking on the government's view of events, the foreign minister said, "The Army sacrificed their martyrs to protect civilians and the country, and  the Arab League is trying to internationalize the situation". Muallem accused the Arab League of breaching the original plan of Action as he said "We did not agree in Doha on the Arab monitors... they suspended our membership in the Arab League to close their ears to the other side of the story."

On sanctions imposed by the Arab body on Sunday, Muallem stated that "Arab League sanctions closed the window of opportunity for solving the crisis", adding that the Arab League refuses to acknowledge the presence of armed groups committing violence and crimes in Syria. Commenting on a clause in the sanctions that bans transactions with the Syrian Central Bank, he said, "Halting business with Syrian Central Bank is tantamount to waging an economic war on Syria". He confirmed, however, that "Syria has already withdrawn around 96% of assets frozen by Arab League on Sunday."

"Sanctions are a two-way street. I am not issuing a warning here, but we will defend the interests of our people... We have to defend the interests of our people," Muallem said.

Asked about the reforms that the regime vows to carry out, “Syria will remove the constitutional article which designates Baath party as the leading party in the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, millions of Syrians flooded the squares of Syrian cities and towns on Monday, gathering in Damascus, Aleppo, Hasaka, Deri Ezzor, Raqqa, Sweida and Tartous to proclaim their rejection of the Arab League's conspiring decisions against Syria, pledging to protect Syria at any cost.