President
al-Assad: Our War On Terrorism Continues - We Will
Liberate Every Inch Of Syria
By President Bashar al-Assad
June 07, 2016 "Information
Clearing House"
- "SANA"
-
Damascus, SANA
– President Bashar al-Assad said that the Syrian
people surprised the world with their unprecedented
participation in the People’s Assembly elections,
sending a clear message to the world that the
greater the pressure gets, the more the Syrians
commit to their sovereignty.
In a speech addressing the People’s Assembly of the
2nd legislative term on Tuesday, the President
started with congratulating the Syrian people on the
advent of the holy month of Ramadan, hoping that in
next Ramadan Syria will have recovered.
His Excellency said that while this is not the first
time he stands at the Assembly after a new
parliament was elected, but this time is greatly
different from the previous ones as these elections
came amid great international and regional and
political events and amid harsh internal
circumstances that led some to expect the elections
to fail or not be accomplished, or if accomplished,
they would be boycotted completely by the citizens,
or at best they would be met with indifference.
“But what happened was the opposite, as the Syrian
people surprised the world once again with their
wide participation in one of the important national
and constitutional events,” President al-Assad said,
adding “the unprecedented level of participation by
voters to elect their representatives at the
People’s Assembly was a clear message to the world
that the greater the pressure gets, the stronger the
Syrian people’s commitment to their independence
becomes, and that the further others attempt to
interfere in their affairs, they more they prove to
be committed to the constitution as the defender of
independence and the pillar of stability.
“This national stance was not represented by the
level of participation only, but also by the
unprecedented number of candidates, who also showed
a high sense of patriotism and awareness.
“All of that is a big and important message to you,
the representatives of this people, as this
unprecedented participation, despite all the
circumstances, challenges and dangers, places on you
an extraordinary responsibility towards the citizens
who entrusted their hopes in your hands to maintain
and preserve them through hard, sincere, and honest
work that should rise up to the gravity of the
challenges imposed on Syria and up to this turnout
and this trust the people gave you.”
President al-Assad noted that just as these
elections were not ordinary and the level of
participation was unprecedented, this Assembly also
came different from the previous ones, as the voters
who are used to electing representatives showed much
responsibility and awareness and a high level of
understanding of the changes in the situation and
the value of sacrifices.
He pointed out that in addition to the people
electing representatives of their social groups,
they chose and voted for candidates who lived the
suffering and are willing to give, adding “your
Assembly this time, and for the first time, includes
the injured who sacrificed a piece of their body so
that the homeland can be complete, the martyr’s
mother or father or sister whose children sacrificed
their lives in order for Syria to persist, the
doctor who kept the sublime character of the
profession and was considerate of the people and
their economic and living conditions and so treated
the citizens for free, the artist who carried a gun
and defended his land and honor.”
His Excellency noted that this time, the number of
women, youths, and holders of higher university
degrees is much greater than before.
President al-Assad said that the world is currently
witnessing unusual conditions with the West seeking
to preserve its grip on the world at any cost,
resulting in international clashes than in turn
created regional clashes between states that seek to
preserve their sovereignty and independence and
states that do others’ bidding, and this reflected
on the region in general and on Syria in particular.
He elaborated by saying that these conflicts reflect
on the political process in Geneva, with
international, regional, and local sides, along with
some who have Syrian nationalities but chose to
become puppets of either the most backwards states
in the world or states that dream of returning to
the days of colonialism, adding “but facing those
traitors are another group of patriotic Syrians that
are entrusted with the sacrifices of the martyrs and
the wounded, and who are endeavoring through
political work to preserve their land, country, and
its independent decision.”
The President said “It is no longer secret that the
essence of the political process for the regional
and international countries supporting terrorism has
been, since the beginning and throughout the various
initiatives, aimed at undermining the presence of
any concept of the homeland through hitting its
core, which is the constitution, and through
continuous pressure to consider it null and stop it
and freeze it under different names and terms,
mainly the so-called transitional stage.
“And of course, through hitting the constitution,
two main pillars of any state get hit: the first is
the institutions, on top being the institution of
the army that is the defender of the state and the
guarantor of the people’s security, as they started
focusing on that greatly since the start and during
any talk about Syria’s future and institutions. The
other pillar is the diverse national, pan-Arab, and
religious identity of Syria, which they started to
focus on when they realized that it was the
underpinning of the homeland’s steadfastness at the
beginning of the events.
“They believed that the core of their political
scheme, after their plot of terrorism failed, was to
hit the constitution… the scheme was for terrorism
to come and fully take over and be given the quality
of moderation and later be given the legitimate
cover, of course from the outside and not the
inside. Their scheme was to undermine the
constitution, and consequently create absolute chaos
from which the only exit would be a sectarian,
ethnic constitution that turns us from people
committed to their homeland into conflicting groups
that cling to their sects and seek help from
strangers against their own.”
The President stressed that the sectarian
experiences prove that sectarian regimes turn the
people of one homeland into adversaries, and when
there are enemies and adversaries anywhere, then in
that case each party looks for allies, and the
allies in such cases wouldn’t be inside Syria, or
inside the homeland, and since relationships would
be based on doubt, grudge, and hatred in the
sectarian model, then the ally would be found in the
outside.
“Here is when the imperialist states come and put
themselves forward as protectors of those groups,
and their interference in the affairs of that
homeland becomes justified and legitimate, and then
they move at some point to partitioning when the
partitioning scheme is ready. Therefore, and in
order to consolidate their scheme, we all notice
that the sectarian terms occupy a significant space
in the political discourse of the
terrorism-sponsoring countries, the regional and the
international ones,” he added, stressing that all
this seeks to consecrate this concept and make it
seem unquestionable or even indispensable, at which
point pressure would begin on Syria to accept this
logic.
His Excellency explained that just like unity starts
with the unity of the people and not with geography,
division also begins in the same way by dividing the
people, adding “since we never have and never will
allow them to take Syria down that way into the
abyss, we proposed at the start of Geneva 3 a paper
of principles that form basis for talks with other
sides.”
President al-Assad said that after reaching
agreement over the principles proposed by Syria,
then it’s possible to discuss other issues like the
national unity government which would draft a new
constitution via a specialized committee then put it
to referendum, with parliamentary elections coming
after that.
He said that everyone today asks repeatedly “what is
your vision for the solution,” explaining that the
solution has two aspects: the political side and
fighting terrorism.
Returning to the issue of principles, the President
said principles are necessary in negotiations or
talks because they need reference points, and in the
case of Syria they try to say that the reference
point is decision 2254, but decisions contradict
themselves, like the 2012 Geneva statement that
speaks of Syria’s sovereignty and at the same time
tries to impose a transitional body on the Syrian
people.
He said that when one sets principles, they prevent
sides from proposing whatever they want and define
limits, and any proposition outside these principles
would be considered obstruction and lack of
seriousness.
“I will quickly mention the basic principles
proposed in the paper: Syria’s sovereignty and
unity, rejection of foreign interference, rejection
of terrorism, supporting reconciliations, preserving
establishments, lifting the siege, reconstruction,
and controlling borders. There are also other points
that are mentioned in the current constitution and
other constitutions like cultural diversity,
citizens’ liberties, and independence of the
judiciary, and other principles. We didn’t agree to
any proposition outside these principles, quite
simply, and this is why they refused. We didn’t hear
anyone saying no but there was evasion.
President al-Assad said these principles would form
basis for the success of talks if there was
credibility and seriousness, in addition to showing
a clear vision of the mechanism of political work
that would lead to a Syrian-Syrian solution, adding
“but actual talks, up to this moment, haven’t
started; rather we were holding dialogue during the
rounds with the international facilitator, which as
I said isn’t a side to negotiate with. They didn’t
respond to the paper of principles. Our delegation
would ask about other sides’ reactions, and we never
got an answer, which shows that those sides are
reliant on their masters and it became clear that
they came unwillingly and submissively to Geneva,
with them beginning since the first day with making
preconditions. And when they failed, they declared
clearly in the last round their support of terrorism
and of undermining the cessation of hostilities.”
His Excellency said that the principles paper was
ignored by the other sides, and instead there was a
suggestion from international sides to engage in
indirect talks in different rooms with the
facilitator playing the mediator, which also didn’t
happen, adding that what was proposed was merely a
number of questions under the tagline of “common
denominators” when in fact all these questions were
traps that contained terms that would harm Syria’s
sovereignty, safety, its establishments, or its
society.
President al-Assad said that the states involved in
this issue won’t let the mediators or envoys work in
an honest and independent manner, with officials
from these states working behind the states and
drafting the aforementioned questions under the
assumption that the Syrian Arab Republic’s team of
negotiators isn’t well-versed in politics, but in
fact the Syrian team’s answers were decisive and
they couldn’t let any of those suspicious terms slip
past them, adding “in truth, for us, whoever came up
with these questions, whether they were from the
facilitator’s team or from those states, are either
amateurs or novices in the world of politics.”
He went on to reiterate that the “other side” came
to Geneva against their will after their masters
forced them to go, and they came yelling and went
and sulked in their hotels, and once in a while
their masters would instruct them to make a certain
statement, and apart from all of that there were no
negotiations or agenda, as the only agenda approved
for them by Riyadh is the agenda of when to wake up,
sleep, and eat.
“Of course, when they failed to achieve what they
wanted in the first time, they wanted to withdraw
and hold Syria responsible, but they couldn’t do
that in the second time. In the last time, their
response was a public declaration of supporting
terrorism and stopping the truce or withdrawing from
the truce or what was called the cessation of
hostilities,” stressing that the aftermath of that
was the brutal shelling of Aleppo and the targeting
of hospitals, civilians, and children by terrorists.
“Although most Syrian provinces, villages, and towns
have suffered and still suffer from terrorism, and
they resisted it and still do, Erdogan’s fascist
regime has always focused on Aleppo because for him
it’s the only hope for its Muslim Brotherhood
project after he failed in Syria and after his
criminal and extremist nature was exposed to the
world, and also because Aleppo’s people refused to
be a pawn and a tool in the hand of strangers and
they resisted and persevered and remained in Aleppo,
defending it and defending the homeland,” adding
that Aleppo will be the graveyard where the dreams
and hopes of the butcher Erodgan will be buried.
The President went on to note that in addition to
what happened in Aleppo, terrorism continued to
strike, with massacres in al-Zara and barbaric
bombings in Tartous and Jableh, with terrorists
trying in vain to incite strife in Syria, because
all Syrians are brothers in life and in martyrdom
who cling to life, steadfastness, and victory.
“In this context, the issue that was proposed
constantly during the past few months was the issue
of truce. Many of us hold the truce responsible for
all that is happening. Let’s talk objectively here;
nothing in this world is absolute except divine
ability, and for us humans everything is relative.
The truce, like anything else, if is positive then
it has negative points, and if it’s negative it has
positive points. In all cases, this truce doesn’t
cover all areas in Syria in order for us to burden
it with the negativities,” he said, adding that the
truce resulted in many reconciliations that
prevented a lot of bloodshed of Syrian civilians and
armed forces, in addition to having benefits on the
international levels that won’t be discussed now.
“On the military level, it allowed for concentrating
military efforts in specific directions and realize
achievements, and the first proof is liberating
Palmyra shortly after the beginning of this truce
and after it al-Qaryatain, and in the Ghouta of
Damascus several areas were liberated of course,”
the President said, adding that some of those areas
were liberated in these months in much less than it
would have taken to liberate them otherwise.
He explained that the problem with the truce is that
it was reached with international consensus and with
the agreement of the State, but there was no
commitment by the US side in particular to the terms
of this truce, and the US turned a blind eye to the
actions of its Saudi and Turkish agents in the
region.
President al-Assad noted that the Saudis openly
declared their support for terrorism more than once,
and Turkey openly sends terrorists across the
borders to the northern areas in Syria, all while
the Americans turn a blind eye to these practices,
stressing that Erdogan, who caused chaos by sending
forces into Iraq, blackmailed the Europeans with the
refugees issue, and sent thousands of terrorists to
Aleppo recently, has been reduced to a political
bully or hoodlum.
“They weren’t content with the terrorism of
explosives and shells; they also backed it with
economic terrorism through sanctions against Syria
and through pressuring the Syrian Pound with the
goal of economic collapse and bringing the people to
their knees,” the President said, noting that
despite all difficulties the Syrian economy is still
withstanding, with recent monetary steps proving the
possibility of standing up to pressure and reducing
the damage its caused and stabilizing the Syrian
Pound.
His Excellency said that this will probably be a
priority for the Assembly and for the new government
that will be formed as per the constitution,
explaining that the issue of the Syrian Pound is
linked to the effect of terrorism in terms of its
attacks on infrastructure and economic facilities,
cutting off roads between cities, scaring off
capitals, and the people’s reaction in general to
terrorism.
President al-Assad pointed out that addressing with
the Syrian Pound is a short-term issue, while the
long-term issue is economy which was affected by the
crisis in various ways, with some investors
suspending their projects at the beginning in hopes
of things returning to normal, while others
continued with their work.
He stressed that what is needed for the
sustainability of support the Syrian Pound and the
economy is for investors to carry out projects
regardless of their scales and for the government to
look into laws and legislations to strengthen the
economy, noting that after five years of the crisis,
Syrians now have experience in how to deal with the
current situation and don’t have to start from the
beginning.
“The terrorism of economy and the terrorism of
explosives and massacres and shells are one and the
same, so I assure you that our war against terrorism
continues, not because we like wars, because they
imposed war on us, but the bloodshed won’t end until
terrorism is uprooted no matter where it is and
regardless of the masks it wears.
“Just like we liberated Palmyra and many other areas
before it, we will liberate every inch of Syria from
their grasp. We have no choice other than victory,
or else there won’t be a Syria and out children will
not have a present or a future,” President al-Assad
affirmed, noting that this doesn’t mean excluding
the political track, explaining “we will continue
working on the political track no matter how slim
the possibilities of realizing and achievement are,
and this is based on the strong desire on the
popular and official levels to stop bloodshed and
destruction and to save the country. However, any
political process that doesn’t begin, continue, and
end with eliminating terrorism is meaningless and
will not produce results.”
His Excellency reiterated his call for everyone who
decided to bear arms for any reason to join
reconciliations, because the path of terrorism only
leads to destroying Syria and the loss of its people
without exception.
The President addressed the Army and Armed Forces
and the supporting forces, saying that no words can
do them justice as they are the reasons why Syria
persists, saluting them and their families and their
comrades who were martyred or injured.
“The defeat of terrorism must be realized as long as
there are states like Iran, Russia, and China that
support the Syrian people and stand by righteousness
and assist the wronged in the face of the
wrongdoer,” President al-Assad said, thanking these
states for their firm positions and for respecting
their principles and supporting peoples’ right to
self-determination.
“Here I hope that we don’t pay any heed to what is
proposed in media about disputes and clashes and
divisions. Things are much more firm than before and
the vision is much clearer. Don’t worry; things are
good in this track,” he added.
The President also thanked the Lebanese resistance
for the help it provided in fighting terrorism in
Syria and saluted its fallen heroes.
Addressing the Assembly members, His Excellency said
that they are faced with serious tasks and major
challenges, and while the sacrifices of Syrian
heroes who gave their lives for their country is
part the price of restoring security, triumphing
over terrorism, reclaiming land, and rebuilding
Syria, then the other part of that price is fighting
corruption, chaos, and unlawful actions.
“These heroes gave their lives in defense of the
land and the people and of the country with its
constitution, establishments, and law. The price we
have to pay is preserving the constitution,
preserving establishments and developing them,
consecrating justice and equal opportunities. These
heroes gave their lives to restore the homeland
whole and intact. The homeland whole is made up of
all these elements together, so live up to their
sacrifices, be as the people hope you to be. Your
mission isn’t just a duty entrusted to you by the
voters; it is also a duty entrusted to you by the
martyrs and the wounded and bereaved mothers and all
those who offered their blood, money, intellect, and
position to protect their homeland. It is a great
and serious duty, so let us all bear it together and
live up to it.” |
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