Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem announced in a press conference he held Monday that Syria had signed the Arab League observer mission protocol, and assured that this step was a “pure national decision”.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem announced in a press conference he held Monday that Syria had signed the Arab League observer mission protocol, and assured that this step was a “pure national decision”.

The deal was signed at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo by Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Al-Moqdad on the behalf of the Syrian government, and Arab League Deputy Secretary General Ahmad Bin Hali on the behalf of the AL.

Al-Moallem said that "we and the AL Secretary General relied on a mutual friend who was a legal expert and the Secretary General agreed on making some amendments on the text of Protocol's draft in which we sensed keenness on our national sovereignty and coordination of the mission's work with the government.”

He further assured that “those who want the interest of the Syrian people do not impose economic sanctions on them and seek internationalization,” stressing that "the Syrian sovereignty was preserved in the heart of the protocol signed with the AL General-Secretariat.”

The Syrian foreign minister also pointed out that “signing the protocol is a pure national decision that announces the beginning of our dealing with the Arab League and our welcoming to the AL observers' mission.”

“We want to come out of the crisis through building modern and safe Syria that is an example for democracy and plurality and all contributions are welcome," he added.

On another level, Al-Moallem indicated that there is no change in Russia’s stance, and that coordination will always exist between the two sides.

In contrast, he stated that “there is no communication with the Turkish side due to the Justice and Development Party's one-eyed views that led it to impose sanctions against Syria and embrace groups which don't want the interest of Syria.”