Damascus-SANA
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates clarified that last week, misleading and illogical statements were issued by the US administration, represented by the US President and his Secretary of State, which included false accusations of the Syrian government of kidnapping or arresting US citizens, including Austin Tice, a soldier in the US Army.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement, a copy of which was received by SANA, that the US government admitted years ago that Austin Tice and other Americans entered the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic illegally.
The ministry said: "The government of the Syrian Arab Republic denies that it has kidnapped or disappeared any American citizen who entered its territory or resided in areas under the sovereignty and authority of the Syrian government, and stresses the fact of its absolute commitment to the principles of international law and the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations."
In its statement, it added: "Syria draws the attention of the American public opinion and American officials to the fact that the government of their country has violated the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, by turning a blind eye and even encouraging dozens of American citizens to travel to Syria and enter its territory without permission. from its government and illegally, through irregular border crossings, or by infiltrating areas controlled by armed terrorist groups.”
The Foreign Ministry clarified that: “Syria confirms that any dialogue or official communication with the US government side will only be public and based on respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and non-interference in its internal affairs.”
The ministry stressed that “the American side must immediately and unconditionally withdraw its military forces that are present on Syrian territory illegally, refrain from stealing and smuggling Syrian oil and wheat, and lift the cover and protection from armed separatist groups and armed terrorist groups that are present at the “Al-Tanf” military base. and to put a final and unconditional end to the unilateral coercive measures imposed by successive US administrations on the Syrian people.”
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