Sağlam: “Penalties for human rights violations should be more deterrent”

In his weekly statement on foreign agenda, İshak Sağlam made important observations regarding the “Caesar Law” which came into force in the USA and its effects on the region, human rights violations and the new Golan Heights policy of the zionist occupation regime.

“The USA has implemented numerous rights violations since the first day by following a policy that will prolong the Syrian civil war and instability “

Evaluating the “Caesar Syrian Civil Protection Law” coming into force in the USA, Sağlam said: “Caesar Syrian Civil Protection Law, which came into force in the USA, is claimed to target economically  the Assad administration and its supporters due to human rights violations. Although the United States claims otherwise, it has followed a policy that will prolong the Syrian civil war and instability since the first day and have made numerous rights violations. In Syria, where the UN warns that hunger and poverty are increasing, food prices have doubled as the Syrian pound is rapidly depreciating. The rapid increase in the cost of life brought along malnutrition. The Caesar Act will hit Lebanon, whose main coup was declared bankruptcy in March. In the country struggling with the economic crisis, the negotiation process with the IMF will also be negatively affected. In addition, the return policies of more than one million Syrian refugees who are straining the Lebanese economy are expected to fail. “

“The main solution to the Syrian problem is to revive the political negotiation process”

Noting the destructive effects of the law, Sağlam said: “The law enacted to prevent the pressure of the Syrian regime on the people will actually have more devastating effects on the civilian population. Besides the increase in poverty, the plans for the reconstruction of Syria will also be unsuccessful. At the same time, the return of refugees migrating to neighboring countries will be difficult, and there will be an economic contraction regionally. The main solution to the Syrian problem is to revive the political negotiation process, to improve the economy in the new process and to create an international fund for the reconstruction of the country. “

“Penalties for human rights violations should be more deterrent”

Reminding that more than 25 thousand violations were documented in the UN's report on “Child Violations in Armed Conflicts”, Sağlam said: “Violations in areas such as Syria, Palestine, Central African Republic, Yemen and Afghanistan have caused more than 10 thousand children to die or become disabled. However, Saudi Arabian-led coalition forces previously held responsible for child mortality in Yemen have been removed from the list of shame due to the drop in child mortality. In Yemen, where civil rights violations continue despite the ceasefire declared as part of the fight against epidemic disaster, millions of children still face the risk of hunger and epidemic disease. “

“Limiting the showdown with human rights violations to death promotes new violations”

Stating that severe sanctions should be applied to human rights violations, Sağlam said: “Limiting the showdown with human rights violations to death encourages new violations. Firstly, severe sanctions should be applied to human rights violations, especially against children. In addition to the conflict zones, millions of reugees who have migrated in the hope of survival also suffer in terms of fundamental rights. Likewise, Greek security forces intervene inhumane immigrants and extort refugees' clothes and money and drag them to death. International organizations should increase and deter their sanctions against forces that inflict severe human rights violations.”

“With the invasion of the Golan Heights, 131 thousand Syrians were exiled from the region”

Commenting on the explanation that the occupation regime would change the name of the Golan Heights to “Trump Heights” and establish new settlements here, Sağlam said: “In the Six-Day War of 1967, the Golan Heights were occupied by the Zionists and were unilaterally annexed by the Zionist Parliament in December 1981. The world public opinion did not accept this occupation and annexation and the United Nations Security Council stated that the situation was not legally valid with the decision numbered 497 in 1981. With the occupation, 131 thousand Syrians, who owned the place, were exiled. 45 Jewish settlements and 60 military headquarters were established for twenty thousand invading Jews.”

“We invite the UN and the world public opinion to say stop this bullying”

Calling on the world public opinion, Sağlam continued his remarks as follows: “Golan Heights is only 60 km from Damascus with its 1800 square km of land. Golan has fertile soil, rich water resources, strategic and economic importance. On 25 March 2019, Donald Trump announced that he recognized the sovereignty of the occupation regime, although the UN and the world public opinion rejected the annexation of the occupation regime with the occupation of the Golan Heights. However, the UN made a statement and stated that there was no change in its previous policy. Golan Heights are Syrian territory. The decisions taken have no value to the world public opinion. Arabs living here still have not accepted the citizenship of the occupation regime. We invite the UN and the world public opinion to stop this bullying, to prevent the opening of new Jewish settlements and to take steps to end the occupation.” (ILKHA)