President Al-Assad to Sputnik: Russia’s Military Support Speeds Up Political Solution in Syria

 

Syrian Arab Army’s success with Russia’s support will speed political settlement in Syria, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Sputnik in an exclusive interview.

DAMASCUS -Russian air support did not change the Syrian government’s position in regard to political settlement and Damascus remains flexible at intra-Syrian talks, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Sputnik.

“We have not changed our position, not before the support from Russia nor after. We went to Geneva and continue to show flexibility. However, at the same time, these victories will affect the states and powers that are hindering the settlement, because these states in the first place — Saudi Arabia, Turkey, France and the United Kingdom — are counting on our defeat on the battlefield in order to impose their conditions at the negotiations. So these military actions and successes will lead to the acceleration of the political settlement, and not prevent it,” President Al-Assad said.

 According to the president, there are political players who accuse Syria and Russia of trying to derail the political process when trying to present Russia’s actions in Syria as an intervention to support the president or the Syrian government, but this is not the case.

“Perhaps this could have been the case if we had not been flexible from the beginning, if we had really persisted. However, if [you] go back to the policy of the Syrian state five years ago, we responded to all the initiatives, without exception, coming from all sides, even if they were not friendly,” he underscored.

“The goal is not to miss a single chance for settlement, without [first] trying it. That’s why I can briefly answer this question by saying that the Russian military support, the support provided by friends of Syria and the military achievements of the Syrian army — all this will lead to an acceleration of the political settlement, and not the opposite,” President Al- Assad concluded.

Assad: Russian Military Bases in Syria Needed for World Power Balance

Russian military bases in Syria are needed not only to fight terrorism, but also to balance the powers in the world, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Sputnik.

“That’s on the one hand, on the other hand they [foreign bases] are linked not only to the fight against terrorism, but also to the international situation as a whole, and, with all due regret, the West, in the course of the Cold War and after it, and even today, has not changed its policy — it wants hegemony in making international decisions, and, unfortunately the UN was not able to fulfill the role of a peacekeeper in the world, not even now, in order to regain its true status,” Assad said.

 Assad to Sputnik: Damascus to Lean on Russia, China, Iran in Rebuilding Syria

 “Military bases are necessary for us, for you, for international balance in the world. That’s the truth, whether we agree with it or not, but right now it’s a necessity,” he added.

Russian military bases in Syria are not occupation, but means to help strengthen stability and security in the country, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Sputnik.

“With Russia we have relations that are over six decades old, they are built on trust and clarity… On the other hand, right now, in its policy, Russia is relying on principles, we are also relying on principles. So when Russian military bases appear in Syria, it’s not occupation, on the contrary — it’s the strengthening of friendship and ties, it’s the strengthening of stability and security. And that’s just what we want,” Assad said.

Syria to Need Russian Military Presence Even After Security Situation Stabilizes

Syria will require Russian military presence even after the security situation in the country becomes more stable, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Sputnik.

“If we are talking about the current period… the period of the fight against terrorism, yes, certainly we need their presence, because they are effective in the fight against terrorism even if the situation in Syria stabilizes in terms of security,” Assad said.

“The process of the fight against terrorism is not something quick and fleeting. Terrorism has spread in this region over the course of decades and a lot of time will be needed to overcome it,” he noted.

Assad: Terrorism in Syria, Iraq Directly Supported From Turkey, Saudi Arabia

Terrorism in Syria and Iraq is receiving direct support from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, France and Great Britain, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to Sputnik.

Terrorism in Syria and Iraq is receiving direct support from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, France and the United Kingdom, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Sputnik.

“Terrorism — that’s the real problem. We must fight it on the international level, because terrorism affects not only Syria. Terrorism exists in Iraq. It is directly supported by Turkey. It is directly supported by the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia, as well as a number of Western states, especially France and the United Kingdom,” Assad said.

“As far as other states go, they are watching, observing. No serious work on this issue is being conducted from their side. I think that with regard to this questions, the problem far larger than the problem of the actual figures,” he added.

Syrian Refugees to Begin Returning Home When Hope for Improvement Appears

Syrian refugees will begin returning home when they see hope for improvement, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Sputnik.

“We’ve started infrastructure reconstruction work before the crisis is over, to soften, as much as possible, the influence of economic losses and infrastructure damage on the Syrian people and at the same time reduce the migration flow out of the country,” Assad said.

“Maybe some will want to return when they see that there is hope for the amelioration of the situation,” he added.

The president noted that the cause of migration is not only terrorism and the security situation, but also the blockade and Western sanctions introduced against Syria.

“Many people have left safe areas where there is no terrorism because of the life conditions. Citizens can no longer provide themselves with all that is necessary. So we, as a state, must take steps, at least the most basic ones, to improve the economic situation and the service sector in Syria. That’s what we are currently doing in terms of reconstruction,” he stated.

Damascus to Lean on Russia, China, Iran in Rebuilding Syria

Damascus will lean primarily on Russia, China and Iran in rebuilding the country following the war, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Sputnik.

“The reconstruction process is in any case profitable for companies that are participating in it, especially if they manage to get loans from the countries that will support them. Of course, we expect that the process will rely on the three main states that have supported Syria during this crisis — that’s Russia, China and Iran. But I suppose that a lot of countries that were against Syria, I mean first of all Western countries, will try to direct their companies to take part in this process. However, for us in Syria there is absolutely no doubt that we will ask, first of all, our friendly states,” Assad said.

According to the president, it is “absolutely certain that if you were to pose this question to any Syrian citizen, his answer, political and emotional, would be that we welcome, first of all, the companies from the three countries, primarily from Russia.”

“If we’re speaking of infrastructure, it spans, perhaps not even dozens, but hundreds of different areas and specializations. So I think that Russian companies will have a very broad space for contributing to the restoration of Syria,” he added.

Syria Needs National Unity Government for Transition Period

The transitional period in Syria must occur under the current constitution and include a national unity government comprising various political forces, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Sputnik.

 Assad to Sputnik: New Syrian Gov’t Format Should Be Agreed Upon During Geneva Talks

 “First of all, regarding the definition of the ‘transitional period,’ such a definition does not exist. We in Syria assume that the term political transition means the transition from one constitution to another, and a constitution is what defines the form of the needed political composition in the next stage. Thus, the transition period must be under the current constitution, and we will move on to the new constitution after the Syrian people vote for it,” Assad said.

“Before that, what we can work on, as we see it in Syria, is the government,” he added. “This transitional structure or transitional format is a government formed by various Syrian political forces — opposition, independent, the current government and others.”

The unity government’s main goal would be to work out a new constitution and let the Syrian people vote on it, after which a transition to the new constitution could take place, Assad explained.

“Neither the Syrian constitution, nor the constitution of any other country in the world includes anything that is called a transitional body of power. It’s illogical and unconstitutional. What are the powers of this body? How will it govern the daily lives of citizens? Who will be assessing it? Today, there is the People’s Council [Syria’s parliament] and the constitution that regulates the work of the government and the state. That’s why a solution is a government of national unity that will prepare a new constitution,” the president underlined.

 The full text of Assad’s interview to Sputnik will be posted on the Sputnik website on March 30-31.

Source: Sputnik