Jan 10, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)_ His Excellency President Bashar al-Assad delivered on Tuesday before noon a speech at Damascus University Auditorium covering domestic issues in Syria as well as local and regional conditions' developments.H.E. President al-Assad reiterated in his speech Syria's determination to continue the ongoing process of reforms, whose results are known before hand, citing some of the measures and steps taken to this effect including the abrogation of emergency law, authorization for parties, local administration elections, information law, elections law, and the under-discussion anti-corruption law.
President al-Assad declared that the new constitution is to be soon put into popular referendum, citing some aspects of the constitution as to include 'political and party pluralism', 'the people are the source of power especially through elections'.
H.E. welcomed an expansion of the government as to include all political forces and national opposition and pointed out to the importance of dialogue.
The second to none priority for Syrians is the restoration of security and fighting terrorism with an iron fist, outlined President al-Assad hailing the Syrians' steadfastness and awareness.
President al-Assad underlined that no orders were given to shoot at the citizens and that no cover-up for any person would be given.
President al-Assad cited in his speech some aspects of the conspiracy hatched against Syria, including the failing media war, blasting the role played by some Arabs as to pave the way for foreign interference in the Syrian affairs.
His Excellency spoke of the Syrian long experience with elected parliaments, parties highlighting the Syrian Arab role in the Arab League, whose Arabism is to be suspended without the participation of Syria, in reference to the decision taken by the League of Arab States to suspend Syria's participation.
The full text of the speech is to be published soon
Al-Ibrahim
الرئيس الأسد: يقولون أنني أتهرب من المسؤولية ولكن أقول لهم خسئتم.. وبعض الدول العربية تهدف لاستبدال سورية بـ"إسرائيل
الرئيس الأسد: يقولون أنني أتهرب من المسؤولية ولكن أقول لهم خسئتم.. وبعض الدول العربية تهدف لاستبدال سورية بـ"إسرائيل
Published Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Syrian President Bashar Assad slammed the Arab League's handling of the Syrian crisis, while promising to use an "iron fist" to crush terrorists in a speech at Damascus University on Tuesday.
Assad, speaking confidently after a 10-month uprising against his rule, focused the early parts of his speech on attacking the Arab League, stating that the regional body is "neither Arab nor a League."
"The Arab League never delivered for the Arab people, and never took an independent stance," Assad said, adding that "we are more free to be Arabs now that we have left the Arab League.
The Syrian president said that the Arab League had often taken an antagonistic position towards Damascus, and that Syria was at the heart of the Arab world.
"We shouldn't be surprised of the position of the Arab League toward us. The Syrian people ask 'why aren't the Arabs us?', I answer 'when were they ever with us?'"
The Arab League has come under heavy criticism from the Syrian government and the opposition, both coincidentally pointing to the inefficacy of the regional body to oversee Arab affairs.
Assad's lengthy speech also focused on more reforms, including the announcement of a future national unity government comprised of opposition figures and a new constitution to be approved by referendum.
The rewriting of the constitution was almost complete, Assad said, adding that a referendum will be held in the coming months with parliamentary elections to follow suit.
Assad insisted that the political reforms were not a consequence of international pressure or the current crisis, but had been planned "since 2005."
Despite this assertion, Assad renewed his offer for dialogue with the opposition, stating that negotiations had already begun with certain opposition elements willing to talk with the regime.
In a carrot and stick approach, Assad then pledged that the regime would strike "terrorists" with an "iron fist," declaring that those who "participate in chaos are partners in terrorism."
"Our strategy is two pronged, to fight terrorism and to continue with the reform process," he said.
Though promising to crush "terrorists," the Syrian president moved to absolve his regime of guilt in crimes committed against protesters, revealing that members of the security forces had been arrested for brutality in suppressing dissent.
Assad also took a shot at his interview with ABC's Barbara Walters, alleging that it was distorted and almost made him "believe what I was saying."
The embattled president explained that the decision to keep foreign media out of the country was due to a media campaign against his regime.
"We chose to keep the media out because they lack legitimacy to report [on the crisis] from outside, let alone inside the country," he said.
Assad chose a pivotal time to deliver his speech with reports of an increasingly divided Syrian opposition, and the Arab League observer mission under fire.
At least 5,000 people have been killed since the uprising began last March, according to UN figures.
Damascus says the violence has claimed the lives of over 2,000 security personnel.
(Al-Akhbar)
Lavrov Calls on Arab Monitors to Turn Their Attention to Destructive Acts of Armed Groups
"The Arab League never delivered for the Arab people, and never took an independent stance," Assad said, adding that "we are more free to be Arabs now that we have left the Arab League.
The Syrian president said that the Arab League had often taken an antagonistic position towards Damascus, and that Syria was at the heart of the Arab world.
"We shouldn't be surprised of the position of the Arab League toward us. The Syrian people ask 'why aren't the Arabs us?', I answer 'when were they ever with us?'"
The Arab League has come under heavy criticism from the Syrian government and the opposition, both coincidentally pointing to the inefficacy of the regional body to oversee Arab affairs.
Assad's lengthy speech also focused on more reforms, including the announcement of a future national unity government comprised of opposition figures and a new constitution to be approved by referendum.
The rewriting of the constitution was almost complete, Assad said, adding that a referendum will be held in the coming months with parliamentary elections to follow suit.
Assad insisted that the political reforms were not a consequence of international pressure or the current crisis, but had been planned "since 2005."
Despite this assertion, Assad renewed his offer for dialogue with the opposition, stating that negotiations had already begun with certain opposition elements willing to talk with the regime.
In a carrot and stick approach, Assad then pledged that the regime would strike "terrorists" with an "iron fist," declaring that those who "participate in chaos are partners in terrorism."
"Our strategy is two pronged, to fight terrorism and to continue with the reform process," he said.
Though promising to crush "terrorists," the Syrian president moved to absolve his regime of guilt in crimes committed against protesters, revealing that members of the security forces had been arrested for brutality in suppressing dissent.
Assad also took a shot at his interview with ABC's Barbara Walters, alleging that it was distorted and almost made him "believe what I was saying."
The embattled president explained that the decision to keep foreign media out of the country was due to a media campaign against his regime.
"We chose to keep the media out because they lack legitimacy to report [on the crisis] from outside, let alone inside the country," he said.
Assad chose a pivotal time to deliver his speech with reports of an increasingly divided Syrian opposition, and the Arab League observer mission under fire.
At least 5,000 people have been killed since the uprising began last March, according to UN figures.
Damascus says the violence has claimed the lives of over 2,000 security personnel.
(Al-Akhbar)
Lavrov Calls on Arab Monitors to Turn Their Attention to Destructive Acts of Armed Groups
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