Prof. Pablo Sabag to ST: “Presidential elections demonstrate Syria’s institutional strength”
Syria is getting ready to hold presidential elections this month while it is still fighting foreign-backed terrorism, confronting occupation and resisting a suffocating siege imposed on the country by America and the European states. The Syrians inside the country and abroad are going to choose who will lead them in the years to come despite all challenges and pressure with great hope that future Syria will be healthier, more stable and prosperous.
“These presidential elections are very important because they will allow Syria to press ahead with its reconstruction after it has faced all kinds of problems over the past ten years, including terrorism and external pressure in the form of coercive economic measures imposed by the US and the European Union in violation of the UN Charter, Prof. Pablo Sabag, a Chilean-Spanish Syrian expatriate and a Professor- researcher at Madrid Complutense University said in a statement to “Syrian Times” e-newspaper.
The fact that these elections are going to be held on due time and form according to the Syrian 2012 Constitution, in addition to the numerous pre-candidates bids demonstrates the strength of the Syrian institutional system and its immunity to any kind of undue external pressures, added Prof. Sabag, pointing out that these elections also show the Syrian state’s capacity to organize the elections and at the same time keep enforcing all the health measures to effectively face the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Western countries, which have supported terrorism in Syria, are against these elections and they shamelessly question their legality, ignoring the Syrian people’s rights and aspirations.
According to Prof. Sabag, “the western countries’ position towards the Syrian presidential elections doesn’t matter at all. It just demonstrates how isolated and disconnected they are from the reality of what is happening in Syria. They have been trying for years to interfere in Syrian affairs but they have failed one time after the other. They simply don’t understand Syria and the Syrian people’s national awareness, their ingrained and long history, their unique coexistence and multi-religious character and their struggle for independence and against imperialism. The presidential election will certify once again their failure in Syria.”
On the preparations of the Syrian community in Chile for this important event, Sabag, the author of “Syria in Perspective” book, said that as in all over the world, the Syrian expatriate community in Chile is very interested in this electoral process. “Everybody knows that these elections will help Syria surpass the past difficult years and move forward. Expatriates in Chile, the rest of Latin America or Spain are eager to participate in the reconstruction of the Motherland. In fact many Syrian expatriates that don’t have Syrian documents and accordingly cannot vote, look with envy at those who will vote. Many have asked the Syrian diplomatic authorities in their countries of residence to ease the procedures for second, third and fourth generations of Syrian expatriates to regain their Syrian citizenship. Many understand that priority during the past period in Syria has been given to other key issues, but they ask the presidential candidates to keep in mind this demand by thousands of Syrians abroad so they can participate and renew their commitment to their motherland in future elections.”
Sabag made it clear that “these elections will definitely be a huge contribution to consolidate stability in Syria. They will demonstrate how solid the Syrian political and institutional system is, how strong the will and steadfastness of the Syrian people is and how failed and futile the coercive and illegal economic measures imposed by the US and the European Union on the Syrians are .”
“Syria has its own roadmap and it is following it. That’s the message of these elections,” he stressed.
“Most of Latin America’s communities of expatriates absolutely support President Bashar Al-Assad, who has defended his country against all evil schemes. They value stability and recognize President Assad’s leadership in this very difficult time for the Motherland. Of course they are also learning about the two other candidates and appreciate their participation because that strengthens Syrian institutions and ultimately our Nation,” he reiterated.
In a previous interview with Syria Times, Sabag said that during the crisis in Syria, the Syrian Community in Chile has played an active role in providing different forms of humanitarian and medical aid to Syrian citizens’ to alleviate their suffering and it has tried to explain the real situation on ground in Syria to help Chileans and the authorities have a better and more in depth picture of what is really happening in the country.
Interviewed by: Hamda Mustafa