From Astana: Syrian FM accuses US, Europe of 'economic terrorism'
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The European Union and United States are using "economic terrorism" which are "unilateral and coercive," said Syria's Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari on Friday. Jaafari also criticized the "Turkish regime," saying it "has not complied with its commitments to the Sochi Agreement or to remove terrorist organizations from Idlib."
“This is economic terrorism that is escalating through unilateral economic measures," The Associated Press quoted Jaafari as saying.
He reiterated that the United States and Europe are in Syria without an invitation from Damascus and thus in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
Jaafari made the remarks, reported by Syria's state-run SANA news agency, at the end of the 12th round of the Astana talks, aimed at finding a solution to the eight-plus year Syrian conflict with interlocutors Turkey and Russia.
The Syrian diplomat applauded parties in Astana's denouncement of the US administration's recognition of Israeli control of the disputed Golan Heights.
However, he claimed the Turkish side "lacks seriousness" in the implementation of its commitments regarding peace deals.
Turkey has backed forces opposed to the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Several negotiated ceasefires guaranteed between Russia, Syria's primary backer Iran, and Turkey have been violated on all sides.
In a 13-point statement, the tripartite agreed to invite Iraq and Lebanon "to join the Astana format" because they are neighborning countries.
The statement also implored relevant United Nations organs to continue support humanitarian crises and facilitate the returns of IDPs and refugees.
Some 400,000 people have died in the protracted Syrian conflict that was exasperated with the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS).
The US-led international coalition-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced they had liberated all territory ISIS once held east of the Euphrates on March 23.
The SDF is primarily comprised of the Kurdish-led Peoples' Protection Units (YPG), which have wanted to parlay the hard-fought protection of their homeland that claimed some 8,000 lives into greater autonomy in the north.
Jaafari stressed "Syria will not allow anyone to work to divide it..." without naming any groups.
The next round of Astana talks is scheduled for July.
