Vahidi: Regional countries anti-Syria policies to Israel benefit

Speaking at the first international demining conference in Tehran on Tuesday, Vahidi said some of the regional nations’ policies are to the detriment of Syria and benefit of Israel, “Therefore these countries must pay more attention to the sensitivity of the region and the adverse effects of such decisions.” “Why do some countries promote civil war in Syria and support terrorist groups? If they want to help Syria why do not they support the trend of reforms and referendum which has begun in the country?” Vahidi said adding, “Supporting reforms that the Syrian government has begun is the best way to help the Syrian people.” The Iranian defense minister said the Western countries want the region to be in a crisis every day, cautioning the regional countries not to fall in the trap of the West’s policies to avert a disaster from happening in the Middle East. Syria has been the scene of unrest since mid-March 2011, with demonstrations being held both against and in support of President Bashar Assad's government. The West and the Syrian opposition blame Damascus for the year-long turmoil, but the government says the “terrorists” are responsible for the unrest, which it says is being orchestrated from abroad. On February 20, the Syrian President revealed that “some foreign countries” are fueling the turmoil in Syria by supporting and funding “armed terrorist groups fighting against the government.”