Larijani: Democracy not established through gun barrels, missiles

Tehran, Apr 10, IRNA – Iranian Parliament Speaker said here Wednesday democracy is not established using weapons and missiles; Syrian crisis resolving is possible only though holding nationwide dialogue and free and fair elections. Ali Larijani made the comment in a meeting with International Syria Peace Pilgrims, adding that the root causes for the Syrian crisis should be sought in military invasion of the US and its allied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. ˈThe military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan has had no result, but further spread of terrorism in the region and the world as today we are witnesses to sorrowful developments in Syria and elsewhere in which the terrorists are trying their best to totally destroy that land,ˈ he said. Elaborating on Iranˈs stands about the Syrian crisis, he said that the Islamic Republic had ever since the beginning of that crisis voiced its support for a democratic, political solution, rejecting the military solutions and promoting all-Syrian dialogue among the whole political groups there. Larijani at the end appreciated the frank efforts made by the International Peace Syria Pilgrims aimed at assisting the Syrian people thorough resolving the Syrian crisis peacefully. ˈI hope your movement will manage to establish the foundations of a sustainable peace in the whole region,ˈ he said. On behalf of the International Group of Syria Peace Pilgrims, Maryam Agnes from the St. James Church of Damascus appreciated the efforts made by Iran aimed at resolving the Syrian crisis peacefully. ˈThe objective of our group, established and comprised on peace activists from around the globe, is contributing to resolving the Syrian crisis through peaceful ways,ˈ she said. She said that Iran has been a true friend of the Syrian nation as of the very beginning of that crisis. Ms. Alice McGuire from Northern Ireland, too, said in the meeting that resolving the Syrian crisis was possible only through political ways and a national reconciliation in that country. On 10 December, Syria Peace and Justice, a grassroots group formed in October 2013, marked International Human Rights Day with a ‘Peace Pilgrimage’ for the people of Syria. Two feeder groups visited embassies and offices in central London with a connection to the Syrian crisis (including Downing St and the foreign office) to deliver a letter from the group. The two groups then converged at the US embassy and visited more embassies together en route to the Syrian embassy. The bodies visited were asked to help achieve: An immediate ceasefire, especially in besieged areas with urgent humanitarian needs, and full and unrestricted humanitarian access; All Syrian and foreign parties to urgently address the desperate humanitarian situation and end all human rights abuses without the use of further violence; All countries to make good on their pledges of humanitarian aid to refugees, internally displaced people and others in need within Syria; All foreign countries and other foreign actors to stop fuelling the conflict through the supplying of arms and ammunition, troops and military financing; Political prisoners and arbitrarily-detained persons on all sides to be released immediately, especially women and children; All countries to welcome their fair share of refugees to help reduce the burden on neighboring countries; A truly inclusive, Syrian-led peace process, including strong representation from all sectors of civil society, not least women’s groups; And finally, full accountability for war crimes and other human rights violations committed by all sides, were the topics of the peace groupˈs proposal for peace in Syria. The Peace Pilgrimage also expressed solidarity with Syrian activists working nonviolently for peace, freedom, human rights and social justice in Syria. Our international group included several Syrians, as well as individuals from Canada, Colombia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Kurdistan (Iranian part), Montenegro, Sweden, the UK and the USA, readˈs the groupˈs website.