Assad Warns of Big Conspiracy Targeting Syria

Syrian President Bashar Assad renewed on Wednesday warnings that Syria was targeted by a huge conspiracy and announced his will to launch the process of reform in the country.

In an exceptional address to parliament that lasted almost one hour, Assad said that a huge conspiracy was targeting Syria. "I know that the Syrian people have been awaiting this speech since last week, but I was waiting to get the full picture... to avoid giving an emotional address that would put the people at ease but have no real effect, at a time when our enemies are targeting Syria," Assad told parliament.

The Syrian President, who expressed belief that Syria will emerge as victorious out of the "test of unity" it was facing, said his country's enemies had taken advantage of the needs of the people to incite strife. "This conspiracy is different in shape and timing from what is going on in the Arab world," he said, while noting that Syria is not isolated from the region, but at the same time is not a copy of other countries.

Assad also noted that the enemies of Syria are working to continuously hit Syria’s stability. While expressing hope that the latest developments would support the Palestinian cause, he recalled that his country’s foreign policy has been based on a decision to hold onto rights and defend the Arab resistance. "Therefore, the objective behind the latest plot against Syria is aimed at ending its leadership of the resistance against Israel," he highlighted.

Addressing the weekend developments in Syria, Assad stressed that the strife began weeks ago through the instigation of satellite TV stations. He praised the people of Daraa who constitute the main arm in protecting Syria. "Daraa’s people will contain the minorities that sought to create chaos," he said.

The Syrian President turned to announce the state’s readiness to launch the process of reform. "We are all for reform. That is the duty of the state. But we are not for strife," he said. "Reform is not a trend," he added. "When the people demand their rights, it is the state's duty to fulfill their demands. What we should watch out for is starting reforms under these circumstances right now, this passing wave."

The Syrian leader stressed that the measures announced Thursday were not taken under pressure. "The measures announced Thursday were not made suddenly," he said. "The emergency law and political parties’ law have been under study for a year. There are more, unannounced reforms ... but giving a timeframe is a logistic matter. When we announce it in such circumstances, it is difficult to make that deadline," the president said.

"We were late in implementing reform but we will start now," Assad said, addressing those asking for reform. He said that ties between the state and the people are not based on pressure but on the rights and needs of citizens. He also announced plans to combat corruption and increase job opportunities.

Assad, referring to Egypt & Tunisia: "If we stay without reform we are on the course of destruction"

 

"....  Assad, who painted himself as a visionary and the tough son of his late father, Hafez, made no dramatic promises or sweeping concessions to end weeks of bloodshed.....  Assad said that the reforms demonstrators were calling for, including the lifting of emergency law and wider political freedoms, were among existing proposals that would be enacted this year. "There are no hurdles to reforms, but there are delays," said Assad, who received a standing ovation when he entered Parliament. He did acknowledge that the Syrian people "have demands that have not been met." Referring to Egypt and Tunisia, he added: "If we stay without reform we are on the course of destruction."

But he offered no specifics and did not, as many were anticipating, repeal the emergency law, which has kept his Baathist party in power since 1963. The president, who in two weeks of protests has shifted between crackdowns and appeasement, such as raising salaries, said "it is my responsibility to secure the stability of the nation." It was unclear whether the address would stem revolts that have flared in cities in the north and south but have yet to threaten the capital, Damascus. That test will come Friday when anti-government protesters have called for large rallies across the country. They are likely to be met by crowds of pro-Assad demonstrators ....  the president seemed confident in his security forces and that his defiance to what he described as foreign agitators would rally the country.... "

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