I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y http://www.tehrantimes.com/international OOCTOBERCTOBER 228,8, 22012012 WORLD IN FOCUS 15

By Kourosh Ziabari own reasons like that. What do you think about the mis- rench journalist Thierry Meyssan sion of Kofi Annan? Was it successful? Fsays Al-Qaeda and NATO are overtly You had written in one of your articles COMMENT cooperating with each other to desta- that he had predicted the overthrow- bilize Syria, and that Israel, France, Al-Qaeda-NATO ing of the government of President Tehran to finance Qatar and the United States are ben- Assad. Since it didn’t happen, he re- Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline efiting from the continued crisis in the nexus destabilizing signed. Is this true? Arab country. Yes, actually Kofi Annan was the Contd. from P. 1 “At the beginning [of violence in architect of the agreement of Geneva. Syria], people from Al-Qaeda commit- Syria, Thierry You remember that Russians had tried German-based firm ILF has completed engineering de- ted horrible crimes like what they did to organize a big peace conference in sign of the pipeline and an interim feasibility report has in Libya and Iraq and now they are car- Meyssan says Moscow, but the U.S. stalled that, be- put the project cost between $1.2 and $1.5 billion. rying out suicide attacks. According to cause they didn’t want to have talks “If the project gets under way with the participation Council on Foreign Relations, that is, with Iran. So Kofi Annan organized of local companies, the cost will fall,” said an official. according to the U.S. itself, Al-Qaeda another meeting in Geneva without Iran has already offered Pakistan to lay the entire pipe- is now a main part of the Free Syrian Iran and without Saudi Arabia. At the line as the latter has been facing problems in attracting funds from countries like China and Russia. Army,” he said in a telephone inter- 500,000 people demonstrating here, were only the members of Al-Qaeda in end of this meeting, they had an agree- Earlier, Russia and China expressed interest in financ- view with the Tehran Times that was 1 million demonstrating there; but it Libya and of the commandment of Ab- ment, and decided to present a peace ing the pipeline if they were awarded the contract with- conducted earlier this month. never occurred. I have witnessed all delhakim Belhadj who was the former plan. But some people in the United out bidding, but no headway could be made apparently Meyssan is the founder and editor the events and can testify. When I number 3 of the Al-Qaeda and is now States disagreed with this peace plan due to U.S. opposition. of Voltairenet.org news and analysis was in Homs, Agence France Presse officially working with NATO and is and wanted to kill and sabotage it. A Russian delegation also came to attend a meeting of website. He has been reporting from reported that 500,000 people took the top military commander in Tripoli, They published in different newspa- the Inter-governmental Commission in Islamabad in Sep- Syria since the violence started in the to the streets for demonstration, but Libya. He came to Syria with his troops pers such as the New York Times and tember, with a heavy agenda and particular focus on the country in March 2011. Meyssan had it was not true. So, there’s no popular and they organized troops from Libya European papers information about IP pipeline, but to no avail. sent reports on the Libyan uprising to uprising here. There’s just mercenaries and Turkey. At the beginning, people the secret involvement of the U.S. and Under the project, Iran will supply 750 million cubic Russia Today from Tripoli. He writes coming from outside, with the support from Al-Qaeda committed horrible NATO in the war against Syria. You re- feet of gas per day (bcfd) to energy-deficient Pakistan. for the Russian weekly magazine of some people inside. These people crimes like what they did in Libya and member that some U.S. media outlets The volume can be enhanced to 1 bcfd later. “Odnako” and his 2002 book “9/11: The follow the orders and motto of the Iraq and now they are carrying out sui- revealed that President Obama had Many people believe that Iran’s offer is the best op- Big Lie” was received internationally. armed groups. The spiritual leader of cide attacks. According to Council on signed a presidential order for a secret tion available amid pressure from the U.S., which has The interview was conducted with the Free Syrian Army is a Sheikh named Foreign Relations, that is, according to war inside Syria. So, Kofi Annan was warned that those assisting the project will face possible the help of my Spanish friend Moises Adnan Aeraour who has his own televi- the U.S. itself, Al-Qaeda is now a main forced to resign after that, because sanctions. Herrezuelo. sion station from Saudi Arabia and his part of the Free Syrian Army. it was not possible to implement the State-owned National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Oil Following is the text of the inter- motto is “All the Christians to Beirut, Do you think that the pressures peace plan anymore. But I think this and Gas Development Company (OGDC) have already view: all the Alawites to death.” So this is a which are being exerted on Syria and will change very soon, because there’s backed out of the project. NBP feared forced closure of What do you think about the Syr- sectarian conflict being fueled by the the operations which the insurgents no other solution for the U.S. other its branches in different countries while OGDC bowed to ian crisis? Free Syrian Army, and not a demo- are carrying out in the Syrian soil with than accepting the Geneva Peace Plan. the threat of U.S.-based investors, who said they would The war against Syria was decided cratic movement. Nobody in this army the sponsorship of NATO are aimed at Of course this plan is not perfect, but it withdraw their investment in the company’s shares. by George W. Bush in a meeting at wants democracy. They use a flag with laying the groundwork for launching is the only way to end the crisis. According to Iranian authorities, the pipeline is ex- Camp David on September 15, 2001 three stars which is a French insignia. a military strike on Iran? I mean, are Do you have any information pected to reach the zero point at the border in the first only a few days after the attacks on So of course this is totally different they trying to weaken Syria and then about the sources of funding of the half of next Iranian calendar year, beginning March 20, World Trade Center and Pentagon. At from what has happened in Tunisia, or realize their ambition for attacking Free Syrian Army? 2013. that time, they prepared a list of the Bahrain. Iran? There are lots of countries support- In a statement, National Iranian Gas Company has countries they would be attacking, Some critics of President Assad Yes, in the plan which George W. ing the armed groups, but the main said work has come to an end on the 56-inch seventh gas and now it’s time for Syria. During the have said that the government has Bush presented in 2001, it was said funding is mainly coming from Qatar. trunk line from Iranshahr, southeast of Iran, to the Paki- past 11 years, the U.S. has been trying been killing unarmed civilians and that they have to destroy different Actually Qatar has provided the armed stan border and Zahedan. to start a war with Syria, and you re- opening fire on its own citizens since countries, and at the end, attack Iran, groups with such a huge amount of member that they had accused Presi- the beginning of unrest in the coun- and of course destroying Syria is de- money that it has become indebted dent Bashar al-Assad of being respon- try. Is this true? stroying the main defense line for Iran. and it is seeking help from the interna- sible for the killing of former Lebanese This is absolutely wrong. During But it’s clear that as they are failing in tional markets. Israel does not directly Human rights groups prime minister Rafiq Hariri. the first days of the unrest in Syria, Syria, they will not attack Iran. provide them with financial assistance, This war against Syria began in Feb- President Assad gave the instruction What do you think about the as- but is in charge of procuring weapons. tell Myanmar to protect ruary 2011, at the same time with the to the army not to use firearms when sassination of Press TV correspondent There was some interception of com- war against Libya, and many people they think they could harm the civil- in Damascus Maya Nasser and the at- munication by the Syrian army show- Rohingya Muslims are confused, because quite at the ing that the Israelis are in charge of ians and I have definitely carried out tacks being unleashed on other jour- Contd. from P. 1 same moment, we have the revolu- some research and conducted several nalists working in the crisis-hit Syria? the weapon trade, so all the weapons tionary events in Tunisia, and some interviews with different military offi- Maya Nasser was really a great jour- coming from Lebanon and Turkey are HRW released the satellite images on Saturday which may think that the revolution in Tu- cials in different places of the country nalist and I remember having some con- provided by Israel. appears to show mass burnings and widespread destruc- nisia is equal to the imperialist wars and all of them can testify that during versations with him about his ideals and What do you think about the role tion of a coastal district marred by ethnic unrest. in Libya and Syria. Of course, when the first period of the unrest, the army his fate, and of course he was one of the the UN in ending the crisis in Syria? According to the group, a total of 811 destroyed build- the U.S. sent some troops to Syria to never used firearm against the civil- big journalists reporting the situation in We have videos showing that some ing structures can be identified from the images of the wage a war, it didn’t send men in uni- ians; never. Syria. During the battle of Damascus in UN observers use their official cars to eastern edge of Kyauk Pyu city – a predominantly Roh- form; they used secret agents to make Because of that, during this period, mid-July, NATO sent a special team to carry the military leaders of the Free Syr- ingya area. The destruction, it says, was likely caused by trouble inside Syria and justify an in- the army has suffered many loses and attack the studio of Al-Alam and Press ian Army. This is absolutely a violation of arson attacks occurring October 24. ternational military action. Because the number of army people killed was TV and they tried to kill Maya and all the the international law. Some of the UN It adds that the victims were mostly Muslim Rohing- Russia and China vetoed their draft far greater than the number of army team at that time. After that, they put observers have been supporting and yas. resolutions at the UN, they weren’t people killed during the war with Isra- on some websites a list of people whom helping the armed groups. The Security “Unless the authorities also start addressing the root able to enter Syria with the assistance el. So, that belief is absolutely wrong. they wanted to target and kill, and Maya Council is also facing problems as there’s causes of the violence, it is only likely to get worse,” said of NATO, as they did in Libya. So they However, things changed a little bit Nasser was on their list. He was killed opposition between NATO from one Phil Robertson, HRW deputy Asia director. choose the plan b, and this plan was after the July 18 bombing of Damas- on September 26 when he was report- side and Russia and China on the other More than 150 people, from both communities, have to send mercenaries with the finan- cus. After that, President Bashar al- ing about the attack on the Ministry side. So we can’t find any solutions being been killed in the state since violence first sparked in cial aid of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and Assad gave the order to army to kill of Defense and normally the attackers presented by the United Nations. The June, according to the government which has imposed destabilize the country and to provoke the terrorists, and the army now has thought that they can assault on the UN is itself a party in the fight. emergency rule in the face of continued tension in the a military coup d’etat inside Syria, and the mission to kill the rebels, instead Ministry of Defense after killing the joint And finally, what’s your perspec- region. Ms. Clinton repeatedly talked about of imprisoning them. So of course chief of staff and then take over the na- tive on the role of Iran in resolving Myanmar government spokesman, Win Myaing, said such a coup in Syria. But as this plan now, the action is now much more tional TV on the other side of the Umayy- the crisis in Syria? Iran, Qatar, Egypt there were no immediate reports of fresh clashes be- failed, we saw two big operations; one deadly and some civilians will naturally ad Square. So the second team was just and Saudi Arabia have established a tween the Buddhist Rakhine and the Muslim Rohingya being the July 18 when they bombed be killed during the fights. There’s no back waiting to attack the national TV, contact group to deal with the Syr- communities on Saturday after almost a week of deadly the residence of the main leader of other choice. Another point is that the and they were the ones who killed Maya ian problem. Can these countries help ethnic strife urging human rights groups to call for action the National Security Council of Syria, strength of the national army is about Nasser by shooting him in the back. Iran in finding a solution to the crisis? to end the violence. and also September 26 plan when they 400,000 soldiers and of course there In what ways do the Western Everybody must understand that State television had reported Friday night that 67 tried, but failed, to kill the chairman of may be some war criminals inside the governments, including the United Iran is the main regional player and people had died, 95 been injured and 2,818 houses were the Joint Chief of Staff. A great resist- army; it’s possible. They have to be ar- States and France benefit from the that the resistance of Syria was only burned down from Sunday through Thursday in seven of ance by the army hindered their plans rested, prosecuted, condemned and ongoing unrest in Syria? Why have possible with the technical support the state’s townships. Win Myaing had earlier stated the for a military coup. So, they don’t have put in jail. But the president has not so they mobilized their forces to stoke of Iran, on the economic and military death toll as 112, but later explained that had been a mis- any other solution, and probably they far given such an order, although some violence in the country? level. Syria couldn’t have resisted such taken tally. will accept the peace plan of Russia. war criminals of the army have been There are many different reasons pressures for a long time without the Human Rights Watch said it believes the true death What is the main difference be- arrested, but it’s difficult in this situa- for that, and each member of the coa- help of Iran. The Saudis are now the toll may be higher than that officially reported, based on tween the popular uprisings in the tion to make the whole things clear. lition has its own reasons. The United main culprits of the sectarian division witnesses’ accounts and a history of government under- Middle East nations like Tunisia and What do you think about the pos- States military wants to continue re- inside Syria. They are using television counting in cases that might reflect badly on it. Egypt and the violence which has sible involvement of Al-Qaeda in the shaping the Middle East. Qatar wants channels to spread hate messages Amnesty International also issued a separate state- encompassed Syria? Some say that unrest in Syria? You have published to be present in Syria to exploit its gas, against the non-Sunnis in the country. ment calling for more government action to protect lives. what’s happening in Syria is also a some articles on this question on your because there are huge reserves of As to Turkey, actually they hoped that “These latest incidents between Muslim Rohingyas freedom movement against tyranny. website. Would you please give us gas in the southern Mediterranean Sea they can extend their influence in the and Buddhists demonstrate how urgent it is that the au- Is that so? more details? and Syria, and if Syria exploits this gas, Eurasia, but now a disaster has hap- thorities intervene to protect everyone, and break the In Tunisia, it was a real, popular There is lots of evidence and wit- it will be one of the main exporters in pened to them, because with the eco- cycle of discrimination and violence,” Amnesty Interna- revolution. All the people took to the nesses showing that the members of the world, after Russia, Iran and Qatar, nomic crisis in Europe, the exports of tional’s Asia-Pacific deputy director, Isabelle Arradon, streets to protest against the govern- Al-Qaeda have been here since the so they want to prevent that from hap- Turkey has decreased by 25% and also said in a statement. ment, and Ben Ali had to go. In Syria, beginning of the events, especially, I pening. Israelis actually want to break they are facing problems with the mi- In June, ethnic violence in Rakhine killed at least 90 there was never a big demonstration think, since December that Ayman al- the axis of resistance. The French think norities, including the Arabs and the people and destroyed more than 3,000 homes. About against the government and I know Zawahiri himself called on all the Jihad- that they can re-colonize Syria like the Kurds. So, if Turkey continues its in- 75,000 have been living in refugee camps ever since. Cur- that. The European media constantly ists from the whole Muslim world to years between the two World Wars. volvement in Syria, they will have a civil fews have been in place in some areas since the earlier talked about a popular revolution, come to Syria. At the beginning, they Each member of the coalition has its war inside their borders. violence and were extended in scope this past week. Exodus of thousands after unrest U.S. nuclear weapons in Turkey Hurricane Sandy kills 43 in According to officials, thousands of displaced people have surged towards already overcrowded camps in threatening regional peace Caribbean, heading to U.S. western Myanmar following the recent spate of commu- nal violence. Contd. from P. 1 the revelation about the deployment Contd. from P. 1 swept away Friday by a swollen river The unrest in Rakhine state has caused a fresh exodus Everyone knows that the deploy- of U.S. nuclear weapons in the coun- Sandy also killed a man in Ja- in the southern town of Juana Diaz, of people fleeing for safety from Rohingya minority ar- ment of nuclear weapons is a very cost- try will surely create more problems maica on Wednesday when a boul- where rain from Sandy’s outer bands eas. ly procedure. It requires a huge budget for Turkish Prime Minister Recep der crashed through his house, has been steadily falling. Tens of thousands of mainly Muslim Rohingya are al- and vast technological capabilities. Tayyip Erdogan. and police in the Bahamas said a Late Friday, Sandy was about ready crammed into squalid camps around the state capi- It appears that U.S. officials are try- The Muslim people of Turkey are 66-year-old man died after falling 90 miles (145 kilometers) north tal Sittwe after deadly violence in June. Rakhine state of- ing to implement their malevolent already dissatisfied with the policy from his roof in upscale Lyford Cay of Great Abaco Island in the Baha- ficials said the latest bloodshed had caused an influx of plans in the Middle East at a time when adopted by Ankara toward Syria, and late Thursday while trying to repair mas and 395 miles (635 kilometers) boats carrying around 6,000 people to the city. the general public’s attention is fo- if there are any new acts of adventur- a window shutter. Officials at Deltec south-southeast of Charleston, “The local government is planning to relocate them to cused on the U.S. presidential election. ism by Turkish officials, popular re- Bank & Trust identified him as Timo- South Carolina. It was just above a suitable place. We are having problems because more Meanwhile, the Turkish govern- sentment will boil over. thy Fraser-Smith, who became CEO the threshold for being a hurricane, people are coming,” said Rakhine government spokes- ment is facing increasing public pres- Hassan Lasjerdi is a political analyst in 2000. with maximum sustained winds of man Hla Thein. Some of the displaced are still on boats sure over its controversial policy to- and an expert on Turkish politics based One death was reported in Puerto 75 mph (120 kph), and was moving while several thousand have docked on an island oppo- ward the political crisis in Syria, and in Tehran. Rico. Police said a man in his 50s was north at 7 mph (11 kph). site Sittwe.