Assad: We Seek Reforms to Dismantle Armed Gangs

Local Editor

Syrian President Bashar Assad said Sunday he is focused on "political reform" and on tackling "armed groups," the official SANA news agency reported. "Syria is taking steps focused on two main fronts -- political reform and the dismantling of armed groups," who seek to destabilize the country, Assad told the visiting foreign ministers of Cuba and Venezuela. Assad told the ministers that "the Syrian people had welcomed the reforms but that foreign attacks intensified just as the situation in the country began to make progress." The Syrian president accused Western powers of having "little interest in reform," seeking instead to "push Syria to pay the price for its stances against foreign schemes hatched outside the region." "Despite everything, a process of reform is underway," he assured them, stressing that Syria's decisions on this matter were "sovereign and not related to foreign instructions." The delegation includes Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, Bolivian Minister of Communications Ivan Canelas, Venezuelan Interior Minister Tareq al-Aisami, Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister Temir Porras, Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry Sub-secretary Pablo Villagomiz and Nicaraguan Deputy Foreign Minister Maria Rubiales. Members of the ALBA delegation conveyed to President al-Assad the solidarity and support of the presidents and peoples of their countries to Syria, as well as their denunciation of the political and media campaign facing Syria over its stances. The members stressed that their countries will always stand by Syria in all fields and at all the international forums. The eight-member ALBA bloc's talks aim to "reject invasion and political destabilization attempts by the United States and its allies," Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said prior to the visit. "We reject all forms of interventionism that the empire is trying to apply as it did in Libya for a violent process of regime change," he added. The meeting was attended by Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem, Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mikdad and the Cuban and Venezuelan ambassadors in Damascus. In the same framework, Minister al-Moallem met the ALBA delegation in the presence of Mikdad, Assistant Foreign Minister Ahmad Arnous and the Director of America Department at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry.

Source: Websites Muallem Warns of Reprisals for Recognition of Syrian Opposition Local Editor Syria will retaliate against any country that recognizes the opposition National Council, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said on Sunday. "We will take significant measures against any country that recognizes this illegitimate council," Muallem told a press conference, as the newly formed opposition group lobbied for support in Cairo. Damascus is a proponent of national dialogue and all opposition groups "are invited to participate for the future of Syria,” he added. Al-Moallem statedd that "number of the Syrian figures who have been assassinated has reached 1110... It’s essential that we inform the international community about the existence of armed groups who perpetrate act of violence in Syria and kill huge number of martyrs." "A lot of people in the West say 'this revolution is peaceful and the demonstrations are peaceful and don't recognize the existence of the armed terrorist groups whom they finance and smuggle weapons to them," he added. Touching the Russian and Chinese stances, "I reiterate our thanks and appreciation for the Russian and Chinese stances at the UN Security Council, and we make constant contacts with the Russian leadership with regard to the situation in Syria,” Muallem went on to say. Formed in Istanbul at the end of August, the Syrian National Council unites all the major known factions opposing President Bashar Assad's rule, both inside and outside Syria. It includes the Local Coordination Committees, an activist network spurring protests in Syria, the long-banned Muslim Brotherhood as well as Kurdish and Assyrian groups. Source: Agencies Kurdish parties condemn assassination of opposition figure Mashaal Tammo by terrorists Nine Army and Civilian Martyrs Laid to Rest Number of Army, Law-Enforcement Personnel Recount Details of Terrorist Groups' Crimes Authorities Dismantle A Number of Explosive Devices in Homs Governorate Terrorist al-Saleh: We Killed 3 Civilian Young Men to Blame the Security Personnel River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian