Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir has reiterated the kingdom’s support for a political solution to the crisis in Syria that does not include President Bashar Al-Assad.
The minister made these revelations while talking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour,
“A man who’s responsible for the murder of 300,000 plus people, the displacement of 12 million people, the destruction of a country, is a man with absolutely no future in this country,” said Saudi Arabia’s Minister Al-Jubeir.
“Bashar Al-Assad will leave, have no doubt about it. He will either leave by a political process or he will be removed by force. The Syrian people will not accept him being in power.”
The foreign minister reaffirmed the Kingdom’s willingness to send troops to Syria with a U.S.-led coalition.
“If the international coalition against Daesh, which we are a part of and have been since the very beginning, decides that it will introduce ground troops to Syria – in addition to the current air campaign – we have said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is prepared to contribute special forces to this effort.”
Islamic State is known as Daesh and has been held responsible for killing of minorities like the Yazidis and Christians in the region.
On relations with Iran, Minister Al-Jubeir stated, “We have always said that we would like to have good relations with Iran…but neighbors have to live with each other based on the principal of good neighborliness and the principal of the non-interference in the affairs of others.”
He continued, “We have no ill-will towards Iran. We have committed no aggression towards Iran. We have been on the receiving end of it.”
The blunt statements made by the Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister is in line with the aggressive tone with which it has been taking ever since the change in the leadership.
Saudi Arabia’s tussle with Iran is an open secret and it is this tussle which is largely being held responsible for the imbalance in the Middle East.
