Mikdad: Syria honors its duties under 1974 Separation of Forces agreement

Damascus, (SANA) Syria continues to honor its duties under the 1974 Separation of Forces agreement and continues to provide all facilitations for UNDOF to carry out its mandate adequately, Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad said.

Dr. Mikdad was speaking during a meeting with the Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous who is visiting Syria to inspect the status of the peace-keeping force in Syria and facets of future cooperation between the United Nations and the Syrian government.

An agreement between Syria and Israel was achieved in May 1974 that stipulated the disengagement and separation of Israeli and Syrian military forces on Golan, and the creation of disengagement zones between the opposing armies.
UNDOF is the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) which was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 350 on 31 May 1974. Since then, UNDOF has remained in the area to supervise the implementation of the disengagement agreement.
Dr. Mikdad expressed satisfaction over the UN Secretary-General’s recent report on the peace-keeping force that pointed to Israel’s direct ties with terrorist groups and Israel’s gravest violation of the separation of forces agreement since 1974, being the attack against Syrian territories on March 18 and 19.
Israel’s air force targeted sites inside Syria on March 18 and 19, 2014 in clear indication of collaboration with terrorist groups active in the area.
While prodding the UN Security Council to take prompt measures against Israel and the countries backing terrorist groups, Mikdad said these violations are not only a flagrant breach of the agreement, but also a threat that puts at risk the safety of the UN personnel.
He demanded that the United Nations help Syria in its counterterrorism efforts by obliging the countries that support terrorists to refrain from it.
Ladsous, for his part, applauded the Syrian government’s “constructive cooperation” with UNDOF, promising continued cooperation with the Syrian government for UNDOF to carry out its mandate.
He hoped that Syria will see security and stability return as before.
M. Ismael