President Al-Assad’s Interviews with Arab, Foreign Media Change Negative Image about Syria

President Bashar Al-Assad’s interviews with media outlets that came from many  Arab and western countries have gradually changed public opinion in these countries and have affected-in a way or another- the political stances of them.

This is what member of the Baath Arab Socialist Party ‘s Regional Leadership Dr. Khalaf al-Meftah said during a forum held Monday in Damascus.

“Since the eruption of events in Syria in 2011 until last month, around 68 interviews and meetings between President Al-Assad and Arab and Foreign media outlets were made. 54% of them were made with hostile or non-neutral media outlets, while 46% were with friendly or neutral ones,” the Baathist official clarified.

 He asserted that these interviews changed the negative image circulated by hostile media outlets about Syria and its army and people and led to reducing some country’s support for terrorism.

“The change of stances of western countries, in general, and the European ones, in particular, towards the Syrian Arab army’s role and the Syria leadership’s attitude was remarkable as the western public opinion was affected by what President Al-Assad said in the interviews,” Dr. al-Miftah added.

“President Al-Assad has been able to bear the political and media burden of crisis’ management as he has knowledge of the keys of western culture and public opinion. This contributed to make a shift that helped pressure political decision makers in the west ,” he stressed

Dr. al-Miftah pointed out that the countries which adopted a hostile stance towards Syria and called on President Al-Assad to step down are now adopting solutions presented by President Al-Assad without saying that these solutions were presented by the Syrian leadership since the start of the crisis in the country.

“Some countries admitted that the Syrian state and army are best able to fight terrorism which is hitting their countries now. They also admitted that Syria is fighting terrorism on behalf of the world. This came as a result of our steadfastness and adherence to the right,” he added.

The party official concluded by saying that the journalists who conducted interviews with President Al-Assad were well-qualified in psychology and dialogue.

Since 2011, a foreign-backed terror war has been waged against Syria targeting its army, people and infrastructures in accordance with US-Zionist plot that aims to fragment the region and to have hegemony over its wealth. 

Basma Qaddour