Later that month, Muallem also rejected calls by Ban to declare a unilateral ceasefire, insisting that governments that "finance, train and deliver weapons to the armed groups, notably Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey" be stopped. In December 2012, he further blamed United States and European Union sanctions for the suffering in Syria.
Later that month, Muallem rejected calls by Ban for a unilateral ceasefire, insisting on stopping governments funding, training, and supplying weapons to armed groups, notably Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. In December 2012, he blamed the United States and European Union sanctions for the suffering in Syria.