Deputy Syrian FM Faisal Mekdad Blames Britain and France for Brussels Attacks: Their Policies Are No Different Than Those of ISIS

Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad recently said that France and Britain support terrorism and that they are "responsible for the blood that flowed in the streets of the European cities and continues to flow in the Arab Republic of Syria." Speaking on Mayadeen TV on April 5, 2016, Mekdad further said that "the declarations and political positions of [France and Britain] are no different than the ones of ISIS and Jabhat Al-Nusra."

Following are excerpts

Faisal Mekdad: I hope people won't be surprised to see Syrian delegations to some EU countries. In other words, you are declaring this. No, but I am saying that it should not come as a surprise to anyone. You're talking about a reaction to something that apparently was agreed upon. I am not saying that, but the coming days will confirm what I am alluding to.

Interviewer: Are there any European or Arab capitals that are excluded?

Faisal Mekdad: We will not go to any capital that supports terrorism.

Interviewer: Such as?

Faisal Mekdad: France, for example. They openly support terrorism. France and Britain still [support terrorism], along with some small countries, which are so insignificant to the point that we've stopped reading what their officials say. There are more than a few such countries in the EU. The EU should adopt a counter-terrorism policy, and should understand that many of its member states were involved in supporting the terrorist groups, and this is what led to the attacks that took place in Brussels and Paris, and could have taken place in any other European country. We hold France and Britain responsible for the blood that flowed in the streets of the European cities, and continues to flow in the Arab Republic of Syria. They must cease supporting terrorism. Terrorism has no homeland, no religion, and no culture. They must join the Syrian government in fighting terrorism.

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Interviewer: Do you think that there is a change in the political mood in Europe, because of the latest developments - the terror attacks in European capitals? I believe that there is a great change in the mood.

Faisal Mekdad: I believe that within the framework of democracy, European governments must respect the will of their peoples. You see non-official delegations and even some parliamentary delegations that visit Syria and express different policies. We see a (different) discourse in the European media, which used to play the political game, and was more official than the officials themselves, instead of being democratic, dealing with fighting terrorism, and reflecting the opinions of the masses. There is a change in the general mood. There is reason for satisfaction, because the media is leveling criticism at the policies of European governments, especially the extremist ones, whose policies are no different than the policies of ISIS and Jabhat Al-Nusra. This is especially true regarding Britain and France.

Interviewer: Britain and France?

Faisal Mekdad: Their declarations and political positions are no different than the ones of ISIS and Jabhat Al-Nusra.

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