Al-Assad Predicts Defeat for Rebels: Door for Dialogue Open

Local Editor

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has hit out at Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar for arming Syrian rebels but insisted they will not win.

According to excerpts from an interview to appear in al-Ahram al-Arabi Egyptian newspaper on Friday, al-Assad stressed that "they [Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar] suddenly saw money in their hands after a long period of poverty and think they can buy history and play a regional role."
"The widespread idea that Saudi Arabia, Syria and Egypt are the cornerstone of stability in the region is false. It has always been, and will remain, Syria, Iraq and Egypt," he added.

In parallel, al-Assad highlighted that "before the conflict, Riyadh served only as a mediator with the West that does not appreciate the axis of resistance against Zionism advocated by Syria."

He further mentioned that Qatar "uses the power of money and revolves in the orbit of the West by providing weapons and money to terrorists to repeat the scenario of Libya."

"The Qataris were the quickest to fuel the violence," he said.

Al-Assad also criticized Turkey, accusing Ankara of being unconcerned "about the interests of its people, focusing solely on its ambitions that include 'the new Ottoman empire',".

Meanwhile, the head of the Syrian state reiterated that "armed men" were "using terrorism against the Syrian state," but that they "have no support among the people. Ultimately they will not emerge victorious."

"It will take time" for regime forces to win, he said, adding that the "door to dialogue is open -- only talks with the opposition will solve the crisis."

Speaking from his office in the heart of Damascus, al-Assad said "change cannot be achieved through foreign intervention".

"Both sides of the equation are equal and political dialogue is the only solution. Violence, however, is not allowed ... and the state will not stand with its hands tied in the face of those who bear arms against it," he emphasized.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org

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