DAMASCUS, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad said his country would retaliate against all encroachments upon its sovereignty, as Syrian official newspapers blamed the "support of armed elements in Syria" as the main impediment to the mission of the international envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi.
In his remarks carried by pro-government al-Watan daily on Thursday, al-Miqdad said Syria will retaliate against all encroachments upon its sovereignty, while expressing hope that peace would prevail the Turkish-Syrian borders.
He also stressed that Syria will stand against any intentions that would lead to creating buffer zones on its soil.
The official's remarks came amid ongoing tensions with neighboring Turkey over cross-border firing since weeks ago.
The latest incident occurred on Wednesday, when a mortar bomb fired from Syria landed in a field near Hacipasa hamlet of Altinozu town in Turkish Hatay province at 4:15 p.m. (1315 GMT) and was retaliated immediately by Turkish border forces.
Last week, Turkish Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Necdet Ozel warned of stronger retaliation if Syria continues shelling on Turkish soil.
Meanwhile, al-Watan quoted Syrian foreign ministry spokesperson Jihad Makdissi as saying that Syria has no problem with any thoughts that would help achieving its interest and stability, but the endeavors should be created under the title of no foreign intervention.
Makdissi's made the comments days ahead of the visit of the UN- Arab League special joint envoy to Syria Brahimi, who has been shuttling between influential countries in the region to delineate a vision on how to solve Syria's crisis.
Brahimi said a day earlier in Lebanon that the Syrian crisis should be solved, otherwise it would spill over to regional countries. He also called for a cease-fire during the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Brahimi also stressed that all influential countries must work to stop the bloodshed in Syria by halting arms shipments so the conflict does not spread.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have emerged as main backers of the armed opposition fighters in Syria amid reports that they have been funneling weapons and funds to the rebels in Syria. "Those countries need to realize, as we heard today in Lebanon, that it is not possible that this crisis will stay inside Syrian border forever," Brahimi said, "Either it has to be taken care of or it will spread and spill over and consume everything."
Meantime, two Syrian state-owned newspapers mirrored the concerns of Brahimi on Thursday and stressed that the main obstacle that would impede his mission is the continuing support to the armed rebels in the Syria with weapons and funds.
Al-Baath daily editorialized that Brahimi's recent remarks in Beirut reflect his conviction that the "most intractable obstacles that impede a political solution do not come from the government but from the internal, regional and international parties that do not want this solution to be achieved."
Meanwhile, Al-thawra, another government-run newspaper, said the "impediment was still the continued involvement in supporting gunmen and terrorists by supplying them with weapons that make events bloodier and more dangerous."
A Syrian foreign ministry source said Brahimi will arrive in Syria on Saturday and will start his visit by meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.
DAMASCUS, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Syria's two conflicting sides showed adamant stands before the arrival of UN-Arab League special representative Lakhdar Brahimi, casting a shadow over the proposals he may raise in efforts to end the Syrian crisis.
Ahead of the visit, several reports have leaked the topics and proposals Brahimi would likely raise with the Syrian leadership though no confirmation has been made by him, who is still tight- lipped about the essence of his endeavor. Full story
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