Syria envoy raps Jordan meeting of Syria friends

“It is a meeting of Syria's enemies, or friends of Israel,” Bahjat Suleiman said on Wednesday in Jordan's capital ahead of the meeting.
 
Officials from a number of countries including Britain, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States are participating in the meeting.
 
Suleiman said those who intend to put an end to the crisis in Syria must stop supplying arms to militants fighting against Damascus.
 
    “Those who want to end the tragedy in Syria need to stop arming and training terrorist gangs in Syria. The war on Syria is unprecedented,” the Syrian envoy said, adding that Syria is “defending itself and will continue to fight Israel's tools in the region.”
 
 
He also warned that Jordan should not involve itself in the war on Syria.
 
“We understand the pressures that Jordan is facing, but the kingdom should not involve itself in the war on Syria. Amman's security is linked to Damascus's security,” Suleiman said.
 
Meanwhile, a US Senate panel voted in favor of a bill authorizing the government to provide foreign-sponsored militants in Syria with lethal weapons and military training.
 
The bill, which also authorizes a USD 250-million fund to help transition of the Syrian government, was supported by both Democrats and Republicans.
 
The crisis in Syria began in March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.
 
The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.
 
On May 18, President Bashar al-Assad said militants from 29 different countries are fighting against the government in Syria. He stated that foreign intervention is the most important factor aggravating the situation in his country.