Syrian envoy lauds Modi for not differentiating between good, bad terror

New Delhi, Sept 19: Syrian envoy Riad Abbas on Saturday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his stand that terrorism cannot be classified into good or bad, even as his country battles the Islamic State terror group's growing footprint that has killed thousands of people and displaced hundreds of thousands.

"We highly appreciate Mr. Modi when he talks about terrorism and says that there is no good terrorism and bad terrorism, it is only terrorism," Abbas said in a talk at the Indian Women's Press Corps here.

Abbas also voiced appreciation of India's position of non-interference in the internal affairs of another country, and said his government would like friendly countries like India to help his country with medicine and food.

"We want friendly countries to help with medicine, food. We will be appreciative of any kind of humanitarian help," said the envoy. He said India to him was like a second home and Syrians loved India.

Abbas said Russia was helping his country with arms and military equipment to fight the IS but not providing soldiers.

The envoy blamed Turkey for the four-year-old unrest in his country and said Syria's problems would be solved "once the terrorism stops". He said Turkey should close the 950 km of open border to stop terrorists from entering his country.

"We want a political solution and don't want any terrorism. Stop the destruction and let us decide (our political future)," he said.

The envoy also blamed the Wahabbism form of orthodox Islam practiced in some Gulf countries for the extremist violence in his country.

He slammed the US for the troubles in the Middle East, and said the BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- could contribute effectively towards peace in the region and in his country.

Abbas also claimed that the thousands of refugees streaming into Europe were not from his country. He said 40 percent of the refugees comprised Islamic State mercenaries who were entering the European nations in order to create havoc.

"Stop terrorism and the problem (of refugees) will stop," he said, and slammed the UN for being a "silent follower" of the US policy.

Voicing sadness over the destruction in Syria, Abbas said: "We are not ready to surrender our country to the new colonialism (by the US). We will not surrender our country to any foreigner," he said.

"I feel very sad to talk about my country. The cross-border terrorism has destroyed our civilization, led to spilling of Syrian blood on the streets.

It is very sad to see those militants should 'Allahu Akbar' and destroy our historical places in Palmyra and other places. We need friendly countries to wake up and see what is happening in Syria and take a stand against terrorism," said Abbas.

PTI