Appreciations and Salutations

 H.E. President Bashar Hafez Al-Assad underlined in his recent inauguration speech that the Syrian steadfastness and fight against terror constituted what might be described as the final nail in the coffin the ewes and colonialists. The Syrians’ resilience constituted the official obituary of what was falsely called ‘the Arab spring’ and reset the course.

Had this ‘spring’ been genuine, it should have started in the backward Arab countries. Had it been a revolution for more freedom, democracy and justice, it should have started in the most oppressive and tyrannical countries: the countries behind every catastrophe that befell this nation, behind every war against it, behind the intellectual and religious deviation and moral degradation, added H.E. President Al-Assad.

It has been the pledge by H.E. President Al-Assad as to soon rid  all of Syria of the terrorists, with particular reference to Raqqa and Aleppo, until it restores its safety and security. The daily military operations and the martyrs from all over Syria, who have fallen for the sake of Aleppo, are clear and tangible evidence that Aleppo will remain in the heart of every Syrian.

President Al-Assad’s appreciations, thanks and salutations went from the heart of the heart to the Syrian Arab Army: officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers, who have spared nothing in defence of our homeland, including their lives and the families they left behind, National Defence Groups and the young men and women who carried arms in defence of their country, its dignity and honour, and who have provided a strong parallel support force to the Syrian Army in many regions.

My biggest salute is to the great people; your embrace of our armed forces and their achievements has been at the core of their victory. We should not forget to thank members of the faithful and heroic Lebanese resistance who stood shoulder to shoulder with the heroes in our army, fought honourable battles together on both sides of the border and provided martyrs in defence of the axis of resistance. I salute them and the families of every martyr who reciprocated our loyalty with loyalty and considered defending Syria a national duty like defending southern Lebanon, added H.E. President Al-Assad.

We also thank Iran, Russia and China, these states that have respected the decision and will of the Syrian people over the course of three years and have truly upheld the UN charter in respecting States’ sovereignty and non-interference in their domestic affairs.

Dr. Mohammad Abdo Al-Ibrahim