Abdullahian: Arab League should not take side in crisis in Syria

Iran reiterated on Sunday its rejection of the decision of the Arab League (AL) to give Syria's seat to the Syrian opposition. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hossein Amir Abdullahian, said after a press conference with AL secretary-general Nabil al-Arabi, that "We believe the AL should play a balanced role in this issue and it should not be a side in the crisis in Syria." He criticized the decision of the AL to give Syria's seat to a side that only represents small number of the Syrian people, reiterating his country's call to reach a political and peaceful solution to the crisis. He stressed that sending weapons to Syria will be a wrong decision, adding that the AL statement on Syria was not balanced. Abdullahian affirmed that the only solution to the crisis in Syria is the political solution, reiterating his country's support for all initiatives that are in this outline. In statements following his meeting with the Egyptian Foreign Minister in Cairo, Abdullahian said that Iran and Egypt have a mutual position and they both believe that the political solution is the only solution for the crisis in Syria. Earlier on Saturday, Abdullahian discussed with UN Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi the situation in Syria. The Iranian Fars news agency said Abdullahian reviewed during the meeting , which took place in Cairo, Iran's stances on the regional and international developments and the necessity to settle the crisis in Syria through political means and in the framework of the UN efforts. Abdullahian arrived in Cairo Saturday on a one-day visit to hold talks on the regional and international developments and means of boosting relations between Egypt and Iran.