Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad calls on the international community to put pressure on Israel to destroy its weapons of mass destruction,�Press TVreports.
Mekdad made the remarks during an interview with Press TV on Tuesday.

He added that Damascus will firmly respond to any Israeli aggression against Syria, but will not use chemical weapons against the regime in Tel Aviv.

Mekdad also said that Damascus welcomes a Russian initiative to place Syrian chemical weapons arsenal under international control, a move that has frustrated US efforts to launch a military offensive against the Arab country.

The Syrian official also accused neighboring Turkey of fuelling tensions in the Middle East region in order to serve the interests of Israel and the United states.

The war rhetoric against Syria intensified after foreign-backed opposition forces accused the government of President Bashar al-Assad of launching a chemical attack on militant strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus on August 21.

Damascus has vehemently denied the accusations, saying the attack was carried out by the militants themselves as a false-flag operation.

On September 10, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said Damascus is ready to implement a Russian proposal to place its chemical weapons arsenal under international control.

The Russian government proposed the initiative during a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Muallem in Moscow on September 9.

"We want to join the convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons. We are ready to observe our obligations in accordance with that convention, including providing all information about these weapons," Muallem said.

In response, US President Barack Obama asked Congress to delay a vote on authorizing military action against Syria in order to give the Russian proposal a chance to play out.

By Press TV

 

The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.