New York, (SANA)- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said the Middle East was still one of the most tense regions in the world, adding that Syria, due to its geographic positions and her people's aspirations, is main part of the sought-for solutions.

Delivering Syria's speech before the UN General Assembly's 63rd Session, Minister al-Moallem said that based on this, President Bashar al-Assad had called for a four-way summit in Damascus which gathered together the leaders of Syria, France, Turkey and Qatar to discuss the Middle East peace and stability.

The Minister added that Syria, through hosting the summit, proved once again that peace was her strategic option sought with other regional and international partners.

Minister al-Moallem said that Syria, as stated by President Bashar al-Assad, entered into indirect talks with Israel under Turkish mediation to reach a base that allows the start of direct talks under international sponsorship, but this needed real Israeli willingness to meet the requirements of peace and American willingness that puts the Middle East peace on its priorities .

He stressed that Syria, in her capacity as head of the Arab Summit, reiterates her firm, persistent support to the Palestinian people's right to restore their lands and national unity through the national dialogue.

On Iraq, Minister al-Moallem renewed Syria's support to maintaining the country's unity, independence and sovereignty and the rejection of all calls to divide Iraq.

He added that Syria supports the national unity in Iraq on the basis of respecting the will of the Iraqi people, stressing necessity of the withdrawal of the foreign troops from it in agreement with the Iraqi government.

On Lebanon, Minister al-Moallem said the situations there had been heading for solution since reaching the Doha agreement which paved the way for the formation of a national unity government, the start of national dialogue and the latest visit by Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to Damascus.

The Foreign Minister said Syria was keen on Sudan's sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability in it, reiterating Syria's rejection of the International Criminal Court's decision on Sudan.

Mr. al-Moallem stressed the right of all countries to possess peaceful nuclear technology, calling for peaceful solution to the Iranian unclear file.

He emphasized Syria's stance for turning the Middle East into a region free of all weapons of mass destruction, calling for forcing Israel to put its nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and join the non-proliferation treaty. 

On the crisis in the Caucus region, Mr. al-Moallem pointed out to the responsibility of the parties which ignited the crisis with Russia and the provocations they committed. He said Syria appreciated Russian responsive reaction to the efforts of France in its capacity as head of the EU to reach a solution to the crisis.

On terrorism, Minister al-Moallem questioned whether terrorism was now less, in terms of spread, than what had been before the war on it.

He stressed that accusing certain countries of sponsoring terrorism for political motives was a desperate attempt to justify the failure by those who address such accusations as the right approach lied in dealing with the roots and reasons of terrorism.

Mr. al-Moallem said that victory over terrorism cannot be established as long as there is no distinction between terrorism and right of man to live free his/her land away from the threat of occupation, war and aggression.

Ahmad Fathi ZAHRA