Al-Assad from Damascus: They Asked US to Turn away from Iran, Buffer Zone Not on Table
Local Editor
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rejected the idea of buffer zones ahead of Thursday's UN Security Council meeting.
"Talk about buffer zones firstly is not on the table and secondly it is an unrealistic idea by hostile countries and the enemies of Syria," said al-Assad, speaking in interview with ad-Dounia TV channel.
Al-Assad said anyone who has made mistakes or seeks to prolong the crisis should be held accountable for what they did.
In parallel, the Syrian president considered that "a resistance is formed when the state abandons its responsibilities... this was the case in Lebanon during the civil war, and the case in Palestine where there was no state at all, but this is not the case in Syria, where there is a state."
"Syria does not need a green light neither from its friends nor from its enemies and opponents to defend its sovereign and national causes," al-Assad added.
He further pointed out that he was targeted for his support to the resistance and his relation with Iran, he revealed that "we were asked to turn away from Iran, but our response was that as long as Iran is standing by us and by the Arabs' rights, how could we turn our back to it?"
Meanwhile, he also held that the Turkish government should be responsible for the blood that has been shed in Syria, in reference to Turkey's role in supporting armed insurgents in the country.
On the ground situation, he announced that his forces need more time to win the battle in Syria.
"I can summarize in one phrase: we are progressing, the situation on the ground is better but we have not yet won -- this will take more time," he said.
Al-Assad also mocked regime defectors, saying their departure amounted to a "self-cleansing of the government firstly and the country generally."
"If there is a Syrian citizen who knows of someone who wishes to flee but is hesitant to do so he should encourage him," he said with a smile. "Whoever flees is either weak or bad. A patriotic or a good person does not flee."
Al-Assad said there were cases when authorities knew in advance of officials who wanted to flee and allowed them to do so unhindered. But he did not provide any specifics to back up the claim
"Despite several mistakes, there is a strong bond" between the regime and the Syrian people, The head of Syria insisted, boasting the support of the majority of the population.
"What is happening is neither a revolution nor a Spring, it is about terrorist acts in every sense of the term," he said.
The Syrian President stated: "We are fighting a regional and global war, so time is needed to win it....If the armed forces wanted to use the entire range of its firepower, it can wipe out many areas. But this will be unacceptable."
"They care about two things: the lives of civilians and private property."
In a lighter moment, the interviewer noted that there are rumors al-Assad has fled to Tehran, Moscow or Latakia, and asked, "Where are you right now, Mr. President?"
Al-Assad laughed and replied, "I'm here with you in Damascus, on the ground, in the presidential palace." He added, "They have not been able to bring fear into my heart, nor in the heart of any Syrian."
Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rejected the idea of buffer zones ahead of Thursday's UN Security Council meeting.
"Talk about buffer zones firstly is not on the table and secondly it is an unrealistic idea by hostile countries and the enemies of Syria," said al-Assad, speaking in interview with ad-Dounia TV channel.
Al-Assad said anyone who has made mistakes or seeks to prolong the crisis should be held accountable for what they did.
In parallel, the Syrian president considered that "a resistance is formed when the state abandons its responsibilities... this was the case in Lebanon during the civil war, and the case in Palestine where there was no state at all, but this is not the case in Syria, where there is a state."
"Syria does not need a green light neither from its friends nor from its enemies and opponents to defend its sovereign and national causes," al-Assad added.
He further pointed out that he was targeted for his support to the resistance and his relation with Iran, he revealed that "we were asked to turn away from Iran, but our response was that as long as Iran is standing by us and by the Arabs' rights, how could we turn our back to it?"
Meanwhile, he also held that the Turkish government should be responsible for the blood that has been shed in Syria, in reference to Turkey's role in supporting armed insurgents in the country.
On the ground situation, he announced that his forces need more time to win the battle in Syria.
"I can summarize in one phrase: we are progressing, the situation on the ground is better but we have not yet won -- this will take more time," he said.
Al-Assad also mocked regime defectors, saying their departure amounted to a "self-cleansing of the government firstly and the country generally."
"If there is a Syrian citizen who knows of someone who wishes to flee but is hesitant to do so he should encourage him," he said with a smile. "Whoever flees is either weak or bad. A patriotic or a good person does not flee."
Al-Assad said there were cases when authorities knew in advance of officials who wanted to flee and allowed them to do so unhindered. But he did not provide any specifics to back up the claim
"Despite several mistakes, there is a strong bond" between the regime and the Syrian people, The head of Syria insisted, boasting the support of the majority of the population.
"What is happening is neither a revolution nor a Spring, it is about terrorist acts in every sense of the term," he said.
The Syrian President stated: "We are fighting a regional and global war, so time is needed to win it....If the armed forces wanted to use the entire range of its firepower, it can wipe out many areas. But this will be unacceptable."
"They care about two things: the lives of civilians and private property."
In a lighter moment, the interviewer noted that there are rumors al-Assad has fled to Tehran, Moscow or Latakia, and asked, "Where are you right now, Mr. President?"
Al-Assad laughed and replied, "I'm here with you in Damascus, on the ground, in the presidential palace." He added, "They have not been able to bring fear into my heart, nor in the heart of any Syrian."
Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org
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