The Syrians are grandsons of those who taught the Alphabet to the whole world, and who spread the arts of Commerce, Medicine and Architecture, said Mrs. Asma Al-Assad.
During her participation in ”Our roots are deep in the land”, the First Lady of Syria, Mrs. Al-Assad, appealed to the Syrians as to be attached to the Land and knowledge for the building of Syria and protection of its future.
Mrs. Al-Assad added, during the ceremony dedicated to the loving memory of the Syrian Martyrs, that we have to teach our children as to have their future: ”Our history is but part of the Syrian Identity, for which we are being the target, and as to protect and develop our country and safeguard its future, the real weapon which we can use is that of knowledge and land.”
Planting a sapling of Olives, Mrs. Al-Assad said that the Olive Tree symbolizes life and continuity, and the Martyrs, who sacrificed themselves for the Homeland, have done so as to defend the Land and as to make us continue to live. Olive is the symbol for giving, and Syria has given us much, and we have today to return the favour and play our role for Syria in contribution to its development in the coming stage. A branch of Olives symbolizes peace, which our people do believe in and search for.”
Regarding rumors about her departure from Syria, Mrs. Al-Assad said ”I am here in Syria, here too are my husband, and children, and it is out of question that I should be with them. Like the rest of the Syrians, I have been groomed up to love my homeland, and regardless of how much we travel and go far from the Homeland, there is no place most dear to us than Syria.”
”I am a mother for three children, and my responsibility towards them is to bring them up with amity for the Homeland. I can’t bring them up with amity to Syria, if they weren’t to live in Syria, and learn its culture, history, civilization, and if they weren’t to interact with the Syrians and eat from the Homeland food. How could I teach them to contribute to the development of the country, if they weren’t to live its problems? Yesterday, today and tomorrow, God willing, and for ever I remain in Syria,” added Mrs. Al-Assad.
Mrs. Asma Al-Assad is famed for her humanitarian and social activities, where she on a daily basis receives and visits the families of the Syrian Martyrs, wounded and follows up the smallest details of Syrian children, impaired and distinguished of all spectra of society.
Dr. Mohammad Abdo Al-Ibrahim