Muallem to Arabi: U.S. Call for Economic Boycott of Syria Violates AL Charter

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem slammed Thursday what he called “the statement of a U.S. State Department source that encourages the Arab countries to join the political and economic boycott against Syria,” in a letter he sent to Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi.

The aforementioned statement “exceeds the limits of the AL Charter and the bases of the joint Arab action,” Syria’s official news agency SANA quoted Muallem as saying.

“The U.S. provocation constitutes a justification for a foreign interference and for economic and political sanctions against Syria with the agreement of some Arab countries,” Muallem added, expressing hope that the U.S. call will not be heeded.

The top Syrian diplomat noted in the letter that “Syria, which has declared its commitment to the work plan agreed upon with the AL, underlines its fulfillment of most of the plan's items, contrary to what is being propagated by some misleading TV channels.”

Syria's permanent envoy to the Arab League will brief the Arab ministerial council on the steps taken in this regard, Muallem said in the letter.

Muallem hoped Arabi “will respond to the U.S. statements in accordance with the AL Charter and the Arab agreements that maintain the sovereignty as well as relations among Arab countries.”

Muallem on Wednesday accused the United States of direct involvement in protests against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime after Washington urged government opponents not to surrender.

He called on the U.N. Security Council to "condemn" U.S. action, according to a letter he sent to the U.N. council.

"This letter is just another attempt by the Syrian government to distract attention from its violent oppression of the Syria people," replied Payton Knopf, deputy spokesman at the U.S. mission to the U.N.

Last week, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland advised Syrians against surrendering in response to the Damascus government's offer of an amnesty for those who give up their weapons.

Syria "considers that through the State Department’s statement, the United States of America has directly involved itself in the violent unrest in Syria," said Muallem.

"The statement encourages armed groups to continue their criminal activities against the people and State."

The State Department action "reflects an intention, indeed an active attempt, to thwart the League of Arab States in its endeavor to bring an end to the crisis in Syria and restore peace and stability to the population."

The Arab League has proposed a peace plan calling for an end to violence, the release of detainees and the withdrawal of Assad's forces from cities. Killings have continued in recent days however, following Syria’s approval of the roadmap.

The U.N. says there have been at least 3,500 deaths in Syria and U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon has accused Assad of failing to keep promises to enact reforms.

The Syrian letter was released by the U.N. hours after U.S. ambassador Susan Rice called the Syrian crisis the most important civilian defense challenge facing the Security Council.

Russia and China vetoed a resolution, proposed by European nations last month, condemning the Syrian government violence.