Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela against US proposed attack on Syria

Georgetown, GINA, August 31, 2013

 

Both Heads of State of Guyana and Venezuela have expressed disagreement with the proposal made by United States President Barrack Obama to launch a military strike against Syria. This came out of a question posed at a press conference during the State Visit of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to Guyana today.

 

President Donald Ramotar stated that the United Nations (UN) experts should be allowed to complete their work with regard to the Syria situation, “and no action should be taken without the ratification of the UN Security Council.”

 

The United Nations team is currently working in Damascus to decide whether a chemical attack actually did happen last week, but not who did it. The US and many allies are convinced that the Syrian army was responsible, but the Syrian government blames the rebels.

 

President Ramotar said history has been based on fighting for peace in different parts of the world, and founder of the PPP Cheddi Jagan has also been known for this. He pointed also to the fact that some of Dr. Jagan’s work is being considered by the UN especially his proposal for a new global human order based on equality, sovereignty and the brotherhood of man.

 

“Principally our fundamental position is always one for peace. It is on that basis we stand in relation to Syria,” President Ramotar stated.

 

President Maduro in supporting President Ramotar’s stand stated that during the recent UNASUR meeting in Suriname, member countries signed a very clear resolution to respect the ruling of the United Nations. “Based on this resolution we reject any military attack on Syria,” President Maduro stated, and added that any attack on Syria will be a criminal one.

 

The Venezuelan President questioned the proposed solution to kill more people in Syria, even if it is proved that the Syrian soldiers was responsible for the chemical attack, which has not yet been proven.

 

President Maduro remains convinced that the international organisation has the method to deal with the violation if it was committed by the Syrian Government. He noted however, it would be horrendous if it is found that the Syrian opposition had launched the chemical attack.

 

The Venezuelan President stated that should the US carry out the strike it would serve to declare that countries could judge each other without recourse to international law and would spell disaster for all.

 

Meanwhile this afternoon President Obama said he will seek congressional authorisation for the military intervention against Syria. The US said the Syrian government carried out chemical weapons attacks on August 21 in which 1,429 people died.