Syria calls on Israel to give up nukes
Syria has replied to Tony Blair’s call to abandon weapons of mass destruction by saying it would comply if and only if Israel followed suit with its “nuclear” weapons.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said there was an “on-going dialogue” with president Bashar Assad and Downing 10 aimed at persuading the country to comply with additional protocols governing chemical and biological weapons.
Syria insists its weapons are part of the country’s right to self defence.
President Assad argued: “We are an occupied country and are periodically exposed to Israeli aggressiveness. It is natural for us to look for means to defend ourselves. It is not difficult to get most of these weapons anywhere in the world and they can be obtained at any time.”
The prime minister’s spokesman said it was important for all countries in the region to do everything possible “to clamp down” on terrorism.
President Assad concurred, pointing to the Jewish state: “Unless this applies to all countries, we are wasting our time.”
And in a message directed at Mr Blair, he added: “If you don’t use double standards, why not support us? Why not raise it with the Israelis?”
