Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad receives Iranian FM Hossein AMir Abdollahian in Damascus (August 31, 2023).
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian met with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Thursday, as he voiced the Islamic Republic’s unwavering support to Damascus.
“The Syrian government, nation and army emerged victorious from a global terrorism war against them and now Syria is in its best condition and we are happy that today the region and the world realize Syria’s real power,” Amir Abdollahian said told President Assad, a day after he arrived in the Syrian capital on a two-day visit.
He stated that the enemies of Syria are still pursuing their political goals in dealing with that country through sanctions and economic pressure on the Syrian government and people.
The top Iranian diplomat said, meanwhile, that as the Islamic Republic of Iran stood alongside Syria during the hard time of the campaign against terrorism, affirming that it will continue the same approach in the new era.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is still standing by Syria’s side in completing the process of fighting terrorism.”
In this context, he emphasized the need for everyone to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.
Amir Abdollahian noted that he discussed with the Syrian prime minister and foreign minister the process of implementing the agreements reached between the two countries during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Syria last May.
He also expressed happiness with the resumption of Syria’s presence and operation in the Arab League and the strengthening of Syrian-Arab relations.
For his part, President Assad congratulated the Iranian nation on the recent accession to the BRICS group.
“This shows that the world is changing and what you and I stood for was right.”
The Syrian president welcomed Iran’s initiative to strengthen relations with the Arab countries of the region as a great strategic action.
He considered the US strategy in the region to be aimed at provoking tensions between the countries of the region, including stirring rows between Shia and Sunni or Iran and Arabs.
In the meeting, the political process of the developments in Syria, the Astana process, the relations between Syria and the Arab League, the developments in Palestine and some other issues in the region were discussed.
President Bashar Al-Assad appointed Hussam Eddin Ala as Syria’s ambassador to the Arab League, 11 years after the Qatari-led League illegally suspended Syria’s participation in the organization it founded 23 years before Qatar was a state.
Mr. Ala was appointed as Syria’s permanent representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the League of Arab States (the Arab League) by Presidential Decree No. 126 for the year 2023.
Syria’s new ambassador to the Arab League is a long-serving diplomat, Mr. Ala was Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geneva branch for the past 8 years. He was not known for any diplomatic breakthrough throughout his career, not known even to the majority of the Syrian people, unlike Syria’s much beloved “lion of diplomacy,” Dr. Bashar Jaafari who brought the art and skills of diplomacy to the transatlantic public, serving his country dauntlessly as Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2006 through 2020.
Prior to his work at the UN Geneva offices, Mr. Ala was Syria’s ambassador to the Vatican, and Syria’s ambassador to Spain, and between 1996 and 2001, he worked at Syria’s mission at the United Nations in New York at the same time incumbent Syria’s minister of foreign affairs Faisal Mikdad was the deputy head at the mission.
The latest appointment of Mr. Ala to head Syria’s mission at the Arab League is seen by some Syrian political analysts as a further confirmation of the lack of importance the Syrian leadership sees in the defunct pan-Arab organization as Syria emphasizes more on improving bilateral relationships with the different Arab states.
Mr. Ala is not recognized for his charismatic character. Like the current Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Ala believes his role is only to participate in meetings and read statements reflecting Syria’s position on the topics discussed, other ambassadors would work their way across the diplomatic bodies in the countries they’re posted to, build strong relations with ambassadors of like-minded countries to theirs, and even maintain relations on the personal level with normal countries whose current regimes are hostile to Syria.
Syrian Foreign Ministry Needs Fresh Blood
Syria needs a strong reshuffle in its foreign ministry, this would only start with thanking incumbent foreign minister Mikdad for his very long service and injecting fresh blood with more charismatic fearless proactive diplomats with skills in management and administration. (Mr. Mikdad is 69 years old, he’s from Daraa in southern Syria, and he’s a product of the Cold War era, he studied at a Czech Republic university and continues to practice the school of diplomacy of those old days).
Unfortunately, despite the legendary victory of the Syrian people against the unprecedented vicious US-led war of terror and war of attrition for over 12 years against their small nation, the current foreign ministry contributed to stripping away the Syrians their joy of the victory and the direct benefits they should reap, their victory over the USA and its stooges came with astronomical sacrifices and helped destroy the US-designed World Order prevailing since the collapse of the USSR and paved the way for the multipolar world order we’re seeing emerging rapidly before our eyes.
The countries that joined the USA and its NATO ‘defensive’ alliance in their vicious war on Syria and lost that war are rewarded for their crimes and celebrated as champions for merely stating they want to ‘return Syria to the norms’ in the international arena while the Syrian people are struggling to find food as the US-led coalition of NATO ‘defensive’ alliance forces of NATO armies, Al Qaeda, ISIS, Kurdish SDF separatist terrorists continue to occupy the country’s food basket region and the region where the main oil and gas fields are.
Syria doesn’t lack the cadre of skilled fresh proactive diplomats, it just needs the old guards controlling the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to understand that the world has changed and they need to provide space for the new generation who can serve better.
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President Bashar Al-Assad delivered yesterday a concise but brutally important speech at the Arab League summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, most political analysts described it as the Syrian and Assad’s victory speech after 12 years of futile concerted US-led, NATO combined participation, Arab-contributed efforts to overthrow the Syrian government, divide Syria, control West Asia, and isolate Russia, China, and Iran from the rest of the world.
The following is the full speech of President Assad at the Arab League summit with English subtitles followed by the full transcript of the English translation of the speech:
Your Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Your Majesties, Sovereigns and Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Where does one begin his speech when the dangers are no longer imminent, but realized? It begins with the hope that motivates achievement and action, and when ailments accumulate, the doctor can treat them individually, provided that he treats the underlying disease that causes them; therefore, we have to search for the major titles that threaten our future and produce our crises so we do not drown, and drown future generations in dealing with the results, not the causes.
Threats contain dangers and opportunities, and today we are facing the opportunity of the international situation change, which appears in a multipolar world as a result of the domination of the West devoid of principles, morals, friends and partners.
It is a historic opportunity to rearrange our affairs with the least amount of foreign interference, which requires repositioning us in this world that is being formed today in order for us to be an active part in it, investing in the positive atmosphere arising from the reconciliations that preceded the summit, leading to it today.
It is an opportunity to consolidate our culture in the face of the upcoming meltdown with modern liberalism that targets the innate affiliations of man and strips him of his morals and identity and to define our Arab identity with its civilizational dimension while it is falsely accused of ethnicity and chauvinism with the aim of making it in a state of conflict with the natural, national, ethnic and religious components, so it dies and our societies die with it in its struggle with itself and not with others.
The titles are too many for words, and summits are not enough (to handle), they do not begin with the crimes of the Zionist entity, rejected by the Arabs, against the resisting Palestinian people, and do not end with the danger of expansionist Ottoman thought grafted with a deviant fraternal (Muslim Brotherhood) flavor. They are not separated from the challenge of development as a top priority for our developing societies.
Here comes the role of the League of Arab States, being the natural platform for discussing and addressing various issues, provided that it develops its work system by reviewing the Charter and the rules of procedure and developing its mechanisms to keep pace with the times.
Joint Arab action needs common visions, strategies, and goals that we later turn into executive plans that need a unified policy, firm principles, and clear mechanisms and controls, then we will move from reaction to anticipation of events, and the (Arab) League will be a breathing outlet in the event of a siege, not an accomplice in it, a refuge from aggression not a platform for it.
As for the issues that concern us daily, from Libya to Syria, passing through Yemen and Sudan, and many other issues in different regions, we cannot treat diseases by treating symptoms, as all of these issues are the results of larger titles that have not been addressed previously.
As for talking about some of them, it needs to address the rifts that have arisen in the Arab arena over the past decade and to restore the League’s role as a healer of wounds, not as a deepener for them. The most important thing is to leave the internal issues to their people, as they are able to manage their affairs, and we only have to prevent external interference in their countries and help them exclusively upon request.
As for Syria, its past, present and future is Arabism, but it is an Arabism of belonging, not an Arabism of hugging, hugging is fleeting, but belonging is permanent. A person may move from one hugging to another for some reason, but it does not change his affiliation. As for the one who changes it, he is without affiliation in the first place, and whoever falls into the heart does not languish in the hugging, and Syria is the heart of Arabism and in its heart.
Ladies and Gentlemen, As we convene this summit in a turbulent world, hope rises in light of the Arab-Arab, regional and international rapprochement that culminated in this summit, which I hope will mark the beginning of a new phase of Arab action for solidarity among us, for peace in our region, for development and prosperity instead of war and destruction.
In keeping with the five minutes allotted for speaking, I would like to extend my deep thanks to the heads of delegations who have expressed their deep-rooted affection towards Syria and reciprocate them, I also thank the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (Saudi King) for the great role he played and the intense efforts he made to promote reconciliation in our region and for the success of this summit, I wish him and His Highness the Crown Prince and the brotherly Saudi people continued progress and prosperity, and peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you.
End of the transcript.
The Arab League had two important summits in the past 12 years, the first one was when the Qatari-led powerless US-dominated Arabs illegally expelled Syria from the League it was an establishing member 26 years before Qatar state came into existence, illegally because they failed to adhere to the League’s Charter to obtain a unanimous decision on expelling Syria; and the second was yesterday, May 19th, 2023, in which Syria restored the Arab League from the USA and its regional poodles.
During the past 12 years, the evil camp, the US-led camp of criminal regimes including the European Union countries, the Gulfies, and some Arab states, NATO other countries, especially Turkey, NATO proxy entities spearheaded by Israel have combined their efforts to overthrow the Syrian government, during this period, the evil camp prioritized killing Syrians and destroying the cradle of civilization over their own people’s wellbeing, health, infrastructure, and even basic needs.
Estimates of hundreds of billions of dollars / Euros, Riyals, and all other currencies were spent to destroy Syria, the least estimates arrive at half a trillion dollars, that’s 500 billion US dollars, a large portion of which was paid by the Gulfies with Saudi Arabia and Qatar alone spending 138 billion dollars between early 2011 and May 2017, former Qatari PM Hamad bin Jassim admitted that much on his own state official TV. The US taxpayers contributed the next large portion, and the European Union taxpayers contributed the rest.
Hundreds of thousands of terrorists were recruited from across the planet and were dumped into Syria from all its borders, the Syrian Arab Army alone managed to eliminate 125,000 of those between early March 2011 and September 2015 when the Russian air force joined the war against the world’s largest terrorist army and was effectively destroying their logistical supply routes and depots.
There’s still much to do to complete the victory, the expelling of the armies of NATO ‘defensive’ alliance, the Turkish and US armies, and their proxy terrorists, ISIS, al Qaeda, and the Kurdish SDF separatists being the top priority to restore Syria’s sovereignty. Then the battle to rebuild what the USA and its proxies destroyed.
The victory of Syria after all those years, all that wasted money and lives, all that mayhem and carnage, all that suffering, helped bring back the world’s balance from the hands of the few ruling the West. President Assad’s concise speech turned a page on 12 years of the main part of the final chapter of one of history’s most criminal empires, the USA and its Western cronies.
During his visit to Sayyeda Zeinab (A.S.) Holy Shrine in Damascus Countryside, the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi led the worshippers’ prayer.
The Iranian president also visited the Holy Shrine of Sayyeda Roqayya (A.S.) in Damascus.
President Raisi stressed that Syria managed to emerge victorious from the 12-year terrorist war, adding that the Islamic Republic will support Syria during the reconstruction stage just it did during the hard times.
Addressing a public ceremony held on Wednesday at Sayyeda Zeinab (A.S.) Holy Shrine in Damascus Countryside, Sayyed Raisi said that the meeting is aimed at celebrating the victory over terror and thank Holy God for this bless.
The Iranian President maintained that the relation between Iran and Syria is popularly emotional and governmentally strategic.
The acts of resistance in Palestine and the whole region against the Israeli enemy led to changing the circumstances in favor of the axis of resistance, according to Sayyed Raisi who added that Iran will keep supporting the Resistance groups in Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine.
Sayyed Raisi also highlighted the role of the Palestinian resistance fighters in liberating Al-Quds, saying that they can take the initiative.
On 3 January 2020, the US military assassinated Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the elite Quds Force in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with his companion, the deputy head of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Three years later, the motives for this decision – and its timing – are still being debated. The reasons for the US’s shock killing, however, may not be solely related to Soleimani’s role in regional conflicts, but could also arguably stem from his growing international clout.
Why was Soleimani assassinated?
Soleimani was reportedly responsible for leading Iran’s plan to surround Israel with an arc of missiles and precision drones in the West Asian region – from Lebanon to Syria, Iraq and Gaza, all the way to Yemen – which was viewed by Israeli officials as an existential threat to the Jewish state.
The US has long accused Soleimani of being behind much of the resistance it faced after invading Iraq in 2003, as well as allegedly ordering operations against US forces in the period leading up to his assassination.
The Quds Force commander – along with Muhandis – were critical in the Iraqi effort to defeat ISIS, outside of the control and agenda of the US and its regional allies, who often used the terrorist group to secure political and geographic gains.
Furthermore, the US held Iran, and by extension Soleimani, responsible for the Yemeni attack on Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil facilities on 14 September, 2019. The Aramco attack was so massive that it disrupted half of Saudi oil production, and was the largest of its kind since former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
A leader in the Resistance Axis
Soleimani was the “keyholder” in the Axis of Resistance, according to an Arab politician with strong ties to decision-making circles in both Washington and Riyadh.
“Hajj Qassem,” says the politician, was uniquely capable of making decisions and then implementing them, which is considered a “rare advantage” among leaders. He was able to achieve significant strategic results – rapidly – by moving freely and negotiating directly with various statesmen, militias, and political movements.
Examples of this are rife: The Quds Force commander persuaded Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2015 to intervene militarily in Syria, and organized the complex ‘frenemy’ relationship between Turkiye and Tehran through Turkish intelligence director Hakan Fidan.
Soleimani played a pivotal role in preventing the fall of Damascus, maintained and developed important links with Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah in Beirut, led a region wide campaign to defeat ISIS, and successfully managed the delicate balances between various political components in Iraq. In Yemen, he was able to supply the Ansarallah movement with training and arms that arguably changed the course of the Saudi-led aggression.
Together or separately, the aforementioned points made him a desired target of assassination for both the US government and the security establishment in Israel.
A visit to Venezuela
There may, however, be additional factors that contributed to the US decision to assassinate Soleimani on 3 January, 2022. While some analysts cite, for instance, the storming of the 2019 US embassy in Baghdad by demonstrators three days before the extrajudicial killing, US decision makers were unlikely to have mobilized its assassins in reaction to this relatively benign incident.
More significant for them would have been Soleimani’s unannounced trip to Venezuela in 2019, which crossed Washington’s red lines within its own geographic sphere of influence.
His visit to the South American country was publicly revealed more than two years later by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, during an interview with Al-Mayadeen in December 2021.
Maduro stated that Soleimani visited Caracas between March and April 2019, during which time the US launched a cyber and sabotage attack on Venezuela, resulting in widespread power outages. He glorified the Iranian general as a military hero who “combated terrorism and the brutal terrorist criminals who attacked the peoples of the Axis of resistance. He was a brave man.”
Although Maduro did not reveal the exact date of the visit, it can be assumed that it took place on 8 April, 2019, and that Soleimani came on board the first direct flight of the Iranian airline Mahan Air between Tehran and Caracas.
At that time, the US attack on Caracas was at its peak: Washington’s recognition of Juan Guaidó as president of Venezuela, comprehensive economic sanctions, and then, at the end of April, the organization of a coup attempt that succeeded only in securing the escape of US-backed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez to the Spanish embassy.
Expanding military ties with Caracas
During Soleimani’s Caracas visit, military cooperation between Iran and Venezuela was likely a key topic of discussion. Prior to his visit, Maduro had announced the establishment of “Popular Defense Units,” or revolutionary militias, to maintain order in the face of US-backed coup attempts.
Both Iranian and Latin American sources confirm that Tehran had a role in organizing these militias. However, the most significant military cooperation between the two countries has been in the field of military industrialization.
Since the tenure of late, former President Hugo Chavez, Venezuela has been working on a project to manufacture drones. This was announced by Chavez on 13 June, 2012, noting that “We are doing this with the help of different countries including China, Russia, Iran, and other allied countries.”
A few months earlier, the commander of the US Army’s Southern Command SOUTHCOM (its assigned area of responsibility includes Central and South America), General Douglas Fries, spoke about the same project, downplaying its importance by claiming that Iran was building drones with “limited capabilities” in Venezuela for internal security purposes.
Developing drones
In fact, Iran, represented by Soleimani’s Quds Force, was busy increasing military cooperation with Venezuela by developing new generations of drones and providing Caracas with spare parts for its existing American-made aircrafts. Interestingly, the raising of the Iranian flag has become routine in the Venezuelan Air Force’s military ceremonies.
On 20 November, 2020, President Maduro delivered a speech announcing plans to produce different types of drones. Near him, on display, was a miniature model of a drone which appeared to be that of the Iranian “Muhajer 6” aircraft that entered service in Iran in 2018.
This issue was raised by then-Israeli Minister of Defense, Benny Gantz, while receiving the heads of American Jewish organizations in February 2022.
Soleimani’s legacy in Latin America
These developments were the direct result of Qassem Soleimani’s efforts. A Venezuelan official has confirmed to The Cradle that the country’s drone project was built with full Iranian support: from training engineers to setting up research and manufacturing centers, all the way to production.
In October 2019, the commander of US Southern Command, Navy Admiral Craig S. Faller, warned that Russia, China, Iran and Cuba were operating in varying capacities in SOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility. He noted, specifically, that Iran’s influence and presence is being felt in South America.
In March 2020, the US SOUTHCOM commander repeated the same warning, placing Iran at the “top of the list of countries” that have assisted Venezuela in skirting US sanctions.
The US has long viewed Latin America as its “backyard” and has sought to prevent the influence of rival or hostile powers in the region through its adherence to the Monroe Doctrine. The influence of Soleimani in the western hemisphere may have been viewed as a threat to US interests and a crossing of this “red line.”
His role in assisting Venezuela in developing military capabilities, including the production of drones, was seen in Washington as a qualitative leap in Iran’s foreign relations and was likely a factor in the decision to assassinate Soleimani.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of The Cradle.
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Forty-Nine years have passed since Tishreen Liberation war and men of the Syrian Arab Army, who have defeated the Israeli enemy in 1973, continue victories over the tools of this enemy of terrorist organizations to restore security and stability to the majority of the Syrian territory after being cleared off terrorism thanks to the sacrifices of the army soldiers.
Tishreen liberation war, led by the late leader, Hafez al-Assad, has formed a compass of the struggle to liberate the usurped lands and restore the Arab rights. The liberation war was a clear declaration to start the era of victories and end the time of defeats to be the war of liberation, the first war in the Arab-Zionist conflict which broke the wall of despair after Naksa of June 1967 . Tishreen war has consolidated a fact that Syria is the fortress of the resilience of the Arab nation that defends its existence and future.
The Successive victories against the Zionist enemy since the October war stress that it has formed a solid rock on which the glory of national resistance against Colonial plots was built in the region. This enemy tried to steal the victory of October by occupying South Lebanon, but the Syrian Arab army with the blood of its martyrs and heroisms of 1982, defeated the Zionist enemy, followed by standing beside the patriotism of Lebanese Resistance until liberating most of the territories of southern Lebanon in 2000 and the defeat of the Israeli enemy there.
Heroic battles were carried on by the sons and grandsons of October liberation men in their war against terrorism during which they wrote heroic epics and engraved deeply in the conscience of the Syrians the meanings of pride and dignity, the blood of the martyrs, was the title of liberation from terrorism in Aleppo, Deir Ezzor and Ghouta ,Daraa, Hama, Quneitra, the countryside of Homs, Hama, the Syrian desert.
Fedaa al-Rhayiah/ Mazen Eyon
Documents from October 1973
A documentary film entitled “October .. The Epic of Victory”
الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد يجري زيارةً إلى طهران التقى خلالها نظيره الإيراني إبراهيم رئيسي والمرشد الأعلى علي خامنئي.
الرئيس الإيراني ابراهيم رئيسي مع نظيره السوري بشار الأسد، والمرشد الإيراني السيد علي الخامنئي
دعا المرشد الإيراني السيد علي خامنئي، لدى استقباله الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد، اليوم الأحد، إلى “ضرورة التعامل مع سوريا على أنها قوة إقليمية في المنطقة”، مشيراً إلى أنّ “دمشق لم تعد اليوم مثل مرحلة ما قبل الحرب”.
وقال السيد خامنئي، بحسب بيانٍ على موقعه الإلكتروني إنّ “سوريا لم تعد اليوم مثل ما قبل الحرب فمكانتها أصبحت أعلى بكثير من السابق وعلى الجميع أن ينظر إليها اليوم كقوة إقليمية”، مضيفاً أنه “بوجود الروح العالية والتصميم لدى الرئيس والحكومة الإيرانية على توسيع التعاون مع سوريا، يجب بذل الجهود لتحسين العلاقات بين البلدين أكثر من ذي قبل”.
وأشار السيد خامنئي إلى أنّ “بعض قادة دول جوار إيران وسوريا، يجلسون ويقفون مع قادة الكيان الصهيوني ويشربون القهوة سوياً مع بعضهم البعض، ولكن أهالي وشعوب هذه الدول في يوم القدس ملأت الشوارع بالحشود والشعارات المعادية للصهيونية والصهاينة، وهذا هو واقع المنطقة اليوم”.
الرئيس السوري مع السيد علي خامنئي
بدوره، قال الرئيس الإيراني إبراهيم رئيسي خلال استقباله الأسد اليوم إنّ “ما يحدث اليوم في منطقة غرب آسيا هو ما توقعه قائد الثورة الإسلامية قبل فترة بأنّ مقاومة الشعوب أمام المعتدين والمستكبرين ستثمر”، مضيفاً أنّ “جنابكم كوالدكم، تمثّلون وجهاً من وجوه جبهة المقاومة”.
وأوضح رئيسي أنّ “مجاهدي المقاومة أثبتوا أنهم قوة يمكن الاعتماد عليها لإحلال الأمن والاستقرار في المنطقة ولا سيما في سوريا”، لافتاً إلى أنه “عندما كان بعض الزعماء في العالم العربي وخارجه يراهنون على انهيار النظام السوري، اصطفت إيران إلى جانب سوريا حكومةً وشعباً ووقفت معها”.
وشدد الرئيس الإيراني على ضرورة “تحرير كل الأراضي السورية من دنس المحتلين والعملاء الأجانب ويجب طردهم”، مضيفاً أنه يجب تنويع “معادلات ردع إسرائيل” في المنطقة.
وأشار رئيسي إلى أنّ “ما يحسم مصير المنطقة ليس طاولة المفاوضات وإنما مقاومة الشعوب التي تحدد النظام الإقليمي الجديد”.
الأسد: إيران كانت البلد الوحيد الذي وقف إلى جانبنا منذ بداية العدوان
من جهته، أكد الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد أنّ “البعض يعتقد أنّ دعم إيران لجبهة المقاومة هو دعم بالسلاح فقط، ولكن أهم دعم ومساعدة للجمهورية الإسلامية هو بث روح المقاومة واستمرارها”، مشيراً إلى أنّ “ما جعل الكيان الصهيوني غير قادر على حكم المنطقة هو العلاقة الاستراتيجية بين إيران وسوريا التي يجب أن تستمرّ بقوة”.
وتابع الأسد أنّ “أنقاض الحرب يمكن إعادة بنائها، لكن إذا دمرت الأسس والمبادئ فلا يمكن إعادة بنائها”، لافتاً إلى أنّ بلاده “مستعدة لتعزيز التعاون والتنسيق مع إيران على الصعد الأمنية والسياسية والاقتصادية”.
وشدد الرئيس السوري على أنّ “دور إيران مهم في مكافحة الإرهاب وإيران كانت البلد الوحيد الذي وقف إلى جانبنا منذ بداية مواجهة العدوان الغربي التكفيري”، مضيفاً أنّ “علاقتنا مع إيران استراتيجية والصمود أثبت أنه مؤثر”.
وأردف الأسد: “نشهد انهياراً للدور الأميركي في المنطقة وقد أثبتنا أننا قادرون على الانتصار أمام أميركا والقوى المهيمنة من خلال التعاون الوثيق بين دول المنطقة”، مشيراً إلى أنّ “نجاح المقاومة الفلسطينية أثبت أنّ تطبيع بعض العرب مع إسرائيل له نتائج عكسية”.
وأكد الرئيس السوري أنّ “ما يمنع الكيان الصهيوني من السيطرة على المنطقة هو العلاقات الاستراتيجية الإيرانية السورية”.
حضور وزيري الخارجية وعدد من المسؤولين ولاسيما العميد اسماعيل قاآني قائد قوة القدس
الرئاسة السورية
هذا وأكدت الرئاسة السورية أنّ “لقاءات الرئيس الأسد في إيران تناولت العلاقات التاريخية القائمة على مسار طويل من التعاون الثنائي”، مضيفةً أنّ “الرئيس الأسد أكد خلال لقاء السيد خامنئي أنّ مجريات الأحداث أثبتت مجدداً صوابية النهج الذي سار عليه البلدان”.
وتابعت أنّ “الأسد أكد أهمية استمرار التعاون لمنع أميركا من إعادة بناء منظومة الإرهاب التي استخدمتها للإضرار بالمنطقة”، مشيرةً إلى أنّ “الرئيس الأسد أكد خلال لقائه السيد خامنئي أنّ القضية الفلسطينية اليوم تعيد فرض حضورها وأهميتها أكثر فأكثر”.
وأردفت الرئاسة السورية أنّ السيد خامنئي “أكد استمرار إيران في دعمها لسوريا لاستكمال انتصارها على الإرهاب وتحرير باقي أراضيها”، لافتةً إلى أنّ “الرئيس الإيراني أكد للرئيس الأسد أنّ لدى إيران الإرادة الجادّة في توسيع العلاقات بين البلدين”.
الرئيس الأسد يجري زيارة عمل إلى العاصمة الإيرانية طهران التقى خلالها آية الله السيد علي الخامنئي قائد الثورة الإسلامية في إيران، وإبراهيم رئيسي رئيس الجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية. pic.twitter.com/aMQahfNOXE
يعترف الأميركيون بصحة ما قاله وزير الخارجية الروسي سيرغي لافروف، بأنهم يواجهون حرباً باردة جديدة مع صعود روسي لم يعد موضوعاً للنقاش والتأويل، لكنهم يحاولون زرع العقبات في طريقه، في لحظة دولية وأميركية شديدة الصعوبة، ومصاعبها آخذة في التزايد. فمن جهة هم أمام روسيا الواقعية التي تعرف جيداً أين تختار ساحات النزال، دون مبالغة بالقدرات، وقد رسمت حدود أمنها القومي بين أفغانستان وقزوين وسورية والبلطيق، وقررت ان تذود عنه، وامتلكت ما يكفي لفرض الوقائع بالتراكم البطيء والقرارات الجريئة. وقد اختبرت واشنطن في عهدي رئيسين سابقين هما الرئيس دونالد ترامب الجمهوري المتطرّف، والرئيس باراك أوباما الديمقراطي الدبلوماسي الذي كان الرئيس الحالي جو بايدن نائباً له وشريكاً في السياسات الخارجية من موقعه الآتي من رئاسة لجنة الشؤون الخارجية في الكونغرس الأميركي لعقود عديدة. وكانت النتيجة برغم الجدية الأميركية في استخدام كل الأدوات والإمكانات، عسكرياً وأمنياً وسياسياً واقتصادياً ومالياً، الفشل الذريع، فثبتت روسيا وجودها وحضورها وثباتها في سورية، رغم حجم وموقع مكانة الحرب على سورية في سياسات إدارتي أوباما وترامب، وكانت حاضرة في قرار بايدن للانسحاب من أفغانستان، وخاضت مخاطرة رشيقة وفاعلة انتهت بنجاح في كازاخستان. وقبل كل ذلك فاجأت عام 2014 بكيفية تعاملها مع ملف أوكرانيا الساخن مجدداً، عندما ضمّت شبه جزيرة القرم وبات الأمر اليوم خارج النقاش.
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الممانعة الأميركية للصعود الرئيس ناجمة عن عدة أسباب غير السبب المبدئي للتوسّع والهيمنة والدفاع عن المكانة، والأسباب الجديدة عامل إضافي للحاجة الى الممانعة بل سبب لجعلها حتميّة، فالإدارة الحالية تواجه وضعاً داخلياً شديد التعقيد أمام تراجع اقتصادي وتفكك اجتماعي وانقسام سياسي، وأمام حلفاء قلقين يعيشون هاجس الضعف والتراجع الأميركيين، ويشعرون بعدم الثقة بالقدرة على السير تحت القيادة الأميركية. وبالمقابل تواجه هذه الإدارة مشهداً دولياً في ساحات متعددة يجعل الممانعة الأميركية للصعود الروسي ضرورة لتأخير إعلان الهزيمة الأميركية بوجه القوى الصاعدة، من الصين الى إيران، وضرورة للحفاظ على وضعيّة حلفاء رئيسيين لها يترنّحون تحت وطأة ضربات خصوم حكوميين وغير حكوميين، كحال دول الخليج و”إسرائيل”. وفي ظل بدء حلفاء كثر بالتموضع نحو تحالف موسكو وبكين وطهران، تجد واشنطن أنها محكومة بالتحرك، لأنه من دون وضع حد للتراجع ولو بصورة مؤقتة سيكون الانهيار دراماتيكياً، وستواجه الإدارة الأميركية تسارعا في الانهيارات الداخلية والإقليمية، أو تجد نفسها منخرطة بورطة عسكرية في زمن السعي للملمة بقايا التدخلات الفاشلة بهدوء، بعد الانسحاب العاصف من أفغانستان، وقد وجدت في أوكرانيا الساحة الأنسب لفعل ذلك، حيث أفضل عناصر الاشتباك. فهناك دولة من بقايا الاتحاد السوفياتي السابق تحكمها نخبة ليبرالية تتطلع للانضمام لحلف الناتو، وهذه الدولة على حدود الأمن الأوروبي، وتثير المواجهة مع روسيا حولها كل عناصر الهواجس الأوروبية، وتتيح إعادة حشد الموقف الأوروبي الذي أصابه الإحباط بعد الانسحاب من أفغانستان، وتفتح الباب لوضع قواعد اشتباك لوضع حد للإندفاعة الروسية التي قدمت عرضاً مبهراً بتدخل سريع وفاعل في كازاخستان.
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تحاول واشنطن خوض المواجهة على حافة الهاوية، بالتلويح بالاستعداد للذهاب الى المواجهة، غير العسكرية طبعاً، ملوحة بالعقوبات القاسية، والقطيعة الكاملة، ووقف العمل بالتفاهمات النووية وغير النووية، لكنها تتجاهل ثلاث حقائق: الأولى أن روسيا مستعدة للذهاب أبعد منها، وهي متحرّرة من الكثير من القيود التي تكبل الحركة الأميركية، وهي تملك تحالفات أوكرانية تتيح خوض المواجهة من وراء ستار محلي معترف بخصوصيته، وفقاً لمسار النورماندي واتفاقات مينسك، التي تتخذها موسكو إطاراً للمعركة حول أوكرانيا. والثانية ان المواجهة تدور على الحدود الروسية، وليس على حدود أميركا، وأن روسيا لا تملك ترف التراجع، وهي لم تفعل ذلك في سورية، البعيدة آلاف الكيلومترات عن الحدود الروسية. والثالثة أن الأدوات التي تهدد بها واشنطن لفرض تعديل الموقف الروسي ثبتت عدم فاعليتها وجهوزية موسكو لتحمل تبعاتها، وهي تستثمر على كل هذه الحقائق في توقيت جديد أفضل بالنسبة لها، سواء لجهة أن المرحلة الجديدة هي مرحلة التحالف الاستراتيجي الروسي الصيني الإيراني بكل مفاعيله الاستراتيجية والمالية والاقتصادية والعسكرية، أو لجهة أن المرحلة عنوانها التراجع الأميركي منذ الانسحاب من أفغانستان.
لا يستطيع أي مراقب للمشهد الدولي والإقليمي أن يتجاهل الاتجاه الثابت لتطورات العقدين الماضيين، بتكريس فشل كل الحروب الأميركية والإسرائيلية، وما يشير إليه ذلك من مسار واضح لما سيحمله قادم الأيام في القرن الواحد والعشرين، لكن ما لا يجب أن يفوت كل متابع هو أن الحكومات والقوى المناوئة للهيمنة الأميركية والعدوانية الإسرائيلية، تدخل العقد الثالث بروحية مختلفة، فيها من الجسارة والتشبت بصناعة انتصاراتها، ما يزيح نموذجاً كان يقوم على حفظ ماء الوجه للأميركي بخروج موارب من المواجهات، ليس فيه نصر بائن ولا هزيمة بائنة، وينزاح معه أيضاً حرص رافق مواجهات العقدين الماضيين على تحييد جماعات وحكومات تدور في الفلك الأميركي، وتقدم خدمات للاحتلال، وتنسق معه فوق وتحت الطاولة، خصوصاً ذلك الحرص الذي طبع العقدين الماضيين على تحييد دول الخليج وفي مقدمتها السعودية، ومساعدتها في كل مرة تذهب للتموضع الصريح في الحروب الأميركية، لتنزل عن الشجرة بأقل إحراج وخسارة ممكنتين، ويتمثل التحول النوعي الذي تشهده المواجهة في مطلع العقد الثالث بهزائم مدوية يتلقاها الأميركي من دون أي مساعدة يلقاها من خصومه لحفظ ماء الوجه، له أو لكيان الاحتلال، أو لنماذج حلفاء تتقدمهم السعودية، ويكفي للتحقق من ذلك، النظر للانسحاب الأميركي من أفغانستان، ولمعركة سيف القدس، ولما يجري اليوم في اليمن، وما جرى في الانتخابات في فنزويلا، وما تقدمه إيران من وقائع في المواجهات شبه اليومية في مياه الخليج، وفي طريقة إدارتها لمستقبل ملفها النووي، حيث المعادلة واضحة، عودوا عن العقوبات إذا أردتم منا العودة لالتزاماتنا، وإلا فنحن ماضون في تصعيد برنامجنا وافعلوا ما تريدون فنحن لا نقيم حساباً لتهديداتكم.
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في مقاربة مثل هذه السياقات التاريخية النادرة الحدوث والمحدودة التكرار، يميل الباحثون إلى الاهتمام بالأكبر فالأصغر، بالدولي فالإقليمي فالمحلي، وفي الإجابة عن سؤال، إلى أين تتجه الأمور، نحو المواجهة أم التسويات، تقول كل الملفات الموجودة على الطاولة، أن قابلية التسوية تتفوق في ماهية كل ملف على حدة، والتسوية على قاعدة التسليم الأميركي بالفشل، لو كان محرجاً وقاسياً، كما كانت الحال مع الانسحاب من أفغانستان، ومن يعود لتقرير بايكر هاملتون سيجد أنه منذ عام 2006 بدأ النقاش على أعلى المستويات الأميركية بحتمية التموضع على قاعدة مثل هذا التسليم، التسليم بشراكة ندية مع روسيا، وبدور إقليمي فاعل لإيران ومكانتها النووية وشراكتها الحتمية في استقرار أفغانستان والعراق وأمن الخليج والطاقة، والتسليم بدور سورية، وصولاً للتسليم بأنه من دون التسليم بالحاجة لحل القضية الفلسطينية يضمن حق العودة للاجئين وقيام دولة فلسطينية عاصمتها القدس الشرقية، فكل شيء سيكون عرضة للانهيار، وبالمقابل تظهر كل ملفات النزاع الراهنة، أن عقدة صياغة التسويات حولها ليس نابعاً من عدم القابلية الأميركية لتحمل الهزيمة، بل عدم قدرتها على قبول تسوية لا تضمن أمن إسرائيل أو تعرض هذا الأمن للخطر، وسواء أخذنا روحية بايكر هاملتون أو الواقع الراهن، فهذا سيعيدنا سواء بالتقرب من الأعلى فالأدنى أو من الدولي إلى الإقليمي فالمحلي، أو إذا سرنا بالعكس، إلى أن العقدة في كل الأحوال هي في المواجهة المفتوحة بين كيان الاحتلال وحركة الشعب الفلسطيني.
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الأمر لا علاقة له هنا بالحديث عن موقع القضية الفلسطينية الوجداني والأخلاقي، بل عن موقعها السياسي كمحرك ومعطل للسياسات، وفي قلب هذه اللحظة التي تبدو صراعات كبرى، كمستقبل الوجود الأميركي في العراق وسورية، والملف النووي الإيراني، والحرب في اليمن، وقد تجمد التفاوض حولها أو يبدو مرتبكاً، بفعل المترتبات التي تنجم عن كل خطوة نحو المواجهة أو نحو التسوية، على أمن إسرائيل، أي مستقبل القضية الفلسطينية، يقرر الفلسطينيون، بكل ما يعنيه الوصف الجمعي لكلمة فلسطينيون، الدخول على الخط كصانع أول للسياسة، بعدما اكتشتفوا أنهم للمرة الأولى أن الصراع الأهم حول فلسطين يخاض على أرضها وبناسها، وأن ناسها باتوا يمتكلون ما يكفي لرسم إيقاع الصراع وعزف لحنه التاريخي، كما قالت لهم تجربة المواجهة الكبرى في سيف القدس، فينتقلون من التربص التاريخي باللحظة إلى الإمساك بها، فتصعد ديناميكية صناعتهم للأحداث ويتزاحم إيقاع حضورهم، ويخرج شيبهم وشبابهم، المعلمون والتلامذة، المقاتلون والقادة، ويتصدرون ساحات النزال، ويكفي لفهم حقيقة ما يجري، التوقف أمام معنى التتابع المتصاعد للأحداث التي لم تتوقف منذ معركة سيف القدس، وفي الساحات الأهم، كالقدس والأراضي المحتلة عام 48 وسجون الاحتلال، والتوقف أمام التعاقب المذهل خلال أربعة وعشرين ساعة بين نموذجي عمر أبو عصب ابن الستة عشر ربيعاً، والشيخ فادي أبو شخيدم الأستاذ ذي الاثنين وأربعين عاماً، لفهم معنى الإمساك الفلسطيني باللحظة التاريخية، ودعوة المنطقة للرقص على إيقاع موسيقى فلسطين.
In an interview with France 24, the US former ambassador to Syria Robert Ford admits Bashar al-Assad’s victory, among other things.
Former US ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford
In an exclusive interview with France 24, former US ambassador to Syria Robert Ford said that the “US policy has failed to establish a Syrian government through negotiations,” in addition to failing to unite the Syrian “opposition” groups.
Ford also mentioned that there are many divisions between the “opposition” groups, which were present since the beginning, contributing to the US’ failure in achieving its interests.
He noted that “As the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is present, and controls 70% of the Syrian territory, including major cities, the armed opposition is unable to remove him,” stressing that “despite the destruction of the Syrian economy, in the end, Assad won the war.”
Ford also acknowledged that “the United States bears responsibility for what happened in Syria,” admitting “we armed [“opposition”] groups open to finding solutions through negotiations.”
On Arab coexistence
Ford said that Arab countries such as the UAE, Egypt and Jordan have recognized the authority of the Syrian government, acknowledging that it is ‘here to stay’ and that Arab countries will have to find a way to coexist with it.
While he revealed that no US politician encourages restoring diplomatic relations with Damascus, he considered that the US’ circumstances are different when it comes to Syria’s Arab neighbors.
However, this does not mean that Washington is happy with the Arab efforts to coexist with Damascus,” also saying that the US is unable to offer an alternative to these offers.
The reconciliation efforts, according to Ford, could be seen in examples like UAE Foreign Minister Abdallah bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s recent visit to Damascus. The UAE foreign minister, last March, said that “Syria’s return to its Arab surroundings is inevitable, and it is in the interest of Syria and the region.”
When it came to whether Arab countries would be sanctioned for restoring relations with Damascus, Ford ruled out the possibility, saying that Biden’s efforts are currently focused on Asia.
قال السفير الأميركي السابق في سورية روبرت فورد إنّ «السياسة الأميركية فشلت في إنشاء حكومة سورية عن طريق المفاوضات».
وأضاف فورد في حديث خاص لوكالة «فرانس 24» أنّ «هناك انقسامات عديدة داخل صفوف المعارضة السورية، منذ البداية، والسياسة الأميركية فشلت في توحيد الصف بين مجموعات المعارضة».
وإذ أشار إلى أنّ «حكومة الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد موجودة، وتسيطر على 70% من الأراضي السورية، وبينها المدن الكبرى المعارضة المسلحة غير قادرة عل تنحية الأسد»، أكّد أنه «على الرغم من تدمير الاقتصاد السوري، ولكنه في نهاية المطاف الأسد فاز في الحرب».
وتابع: «أعتقد أن الدول العربية، وليس الإمارات فقط، بل مصر والأردن، اعترفت بأنّ الحكومة السورية باقية وتستمر بالسلطة».
وأقرّ السفير الأميركي السابق لدى سورية بأنّ «الحكومة السورية باقية، وعلى الدول العربية إيجاد طريقة التعايش معها».
وفي حين كشف أنه «لا يوجد أي سياسي أميركي يؤيد فكرة إعادة العلاقات الدبلوماسية مع دمشق»، اعتبر فورد أنّ «الولايات المتحدة لها ظروف تختلف مع البلدان العربية جيران سورية».
كما اعترف أنّ «واشنطن فهمت أن من الصعب عليها أن تمانع جهوداً عربية لإيجاد طريقة تعايش مع الحكومة السورية المستمرة في السلطة في دمشق، وهذا لا يعني أنّ واشنطن فرحة بالجهود العربية للتعايش مع دمشق»، مؤكداً أنّ «واشنطن غير قادرة على عرض بديل للاستراتيجية العربية التي رأيناها مع وزير الخارجية الإماراتي عبد الله بن زايد آل نهيان».
واستبعد فورد فرض عقوبات على الأنظمة العربية التي تعيد علاقاتها مع دمشق، مشيراً إلى أنّ «إدارة الرئيس بايدن تركز على ملف آسيا حالياً».
وفي الختام، أقرّ السفير الأميركي السابق لدى سوريا أيضاً أنّ «الولايات المتحدة تتحمل مسؤولية في ما جرى في سورية»، وقال: «أرسلنا السلاح إلى المجموعات المنفتحة حول فكرة إيجاد حل تفاوضي»، في إشارة إلى المعارضة، التي كان قد أكّد لها في العام 2019 أن «لا تنتظر شيئاً من واشنطن».
على رغم الإعلانات الأميركية المتكررة عند كل تقارب عربي مع سورية، عن عدم الموافقة على هذا التقارب قبل أن “يغير النظام سلوكه ويتقدم على طريق الحل السياسي” إلى نهاية المعزوفة، يصعب الاقتناع بأن هذا الموقف الأميركي هو أكثر من مجرد معزوفة تقليدية تحاكي الذين يعارضون هذا الانفتاح من بين حلفائها، فواشنطن ليست محللاً سياسياً لتعبر عن موقفها ببيان يتم التمرد على مضمونه من أقرب المقربين إليها، لو كان الأمر يعتبر عندها من الأساسيات، فتضع واشنطن الضوء الأصفر لعودة العلاقات مع سورية بين حلفائها، وتترك لهم أن يقرأوه بحسب رغباتهم ومصالحهم، فالراغب بالعلاقة يراه أخضر، والساعي للقطيعة يعتبره أحمر.
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الضوء الأصفر يأتي بعد ضوء أحمر مشدد، وحرب ضروس، فهو إذن طريق التراجع المنظم، لضمان أقل الخسائر، وما بعد الانسحاب من أفغانستان لم يعد هناك سبب استراتيجي للبقاء الأميركي في سورية، ولا للعداء مع سورية، فمشروع إسقاط سورية قد سقط، ومشروع تقسيمها يسقط، ومشروع تقاسمها مردود لأصحابه، البقاء في سورية والخصومة معها سقفهما نضوج أوضاع حلفاء لواشنطن سيدفعون ثمن الانسحاب وإنهاء الخصومة، وفي طليعتهم “إسرائيل” التي تستشعر تنامي محور المقاومة وتخشى معادلاته الجديدة بعد الانسحاب، والجماعات الكردية المسلحة التي أقامت كانتوناً في ظلال الوجود الأميركي، والرئيس التركي الذي يخشى تسارع خلط أوراق يهدد ما يعتبره أوراقاً هامة يمسك بها لضمان حضور سياسي وأمني في معادلة سورية المقبلة.
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الضوء الأصفر الأميركي هو تعبير عن السياق التراجعي بعد قرار أميركي بالحرب على سورية، والسياق التراجعي ينسجم مع محاولة تهيئة الظروف لولادة نظام إقليمي يملأ الفراغ بعد الانسحاب الأميركي الذي بات حتمياً في ضوء المسار الاستراتيجي الذي بدأ من أفغانستان، فالضوء الأصفر يفتح الباب موارباً لكل اللاعبين الإقليميين من حلفاء واشنطن الذين لا تعقيدات تحول دون انفتاحهم على سورية، وهم يرون انتصارها، ويرون كل من زاوية، إما الحاجة لتوازن بوجه تركيا كحال مصر، أو بوجه إيران كحال دول الخليج، أو بوجه إسرائيل كحال الجزائر، لا يتحقق من دون سورية، وكما لا يخفي المصريون أن لا تهديد للأمن القومي العربي بحجم التهديد التركي، لا يخفون أن لا مواجهة لهذا التهديد من دون سورية، ومثلهم يفعل الخليجيون في الحديث عن إيران، ويرون أن الانفتاح على سورية يحقق التوازن مع إيران بداية في سورية، ثم ينشط دور سورية لإقامة التوازن في كل من العراق ولبنان، ليفتح الطريق لاحقاً لدور سوري في الحوار الخليجي- الإيراني، حيث وحدها سورية تستطيع أن “تمون” على طلبات من إيران لن تأخذ منها بغير “المونة”، وحيث وحدها سورية “تمون على حزب الله” وتستطيع أن تحصل منه على طلبات لا تؤخذ منه إلا بـ “المونة”، أما الذين يؤمنون بأن الخطر الإسرائيلي لا يزال هو الخطر الأول على دول وشعوب المنطقة كما تؤمن الجزائر ومعها شارع عربي كبير، فسورية هي حجر الرحى بين الدول العربية في إنشاء التوازن الاستراتيجي بوجه التغول الإسرائيلي السياسي على رغم التراجع العسكري، كما يقول التمدد الإسرائيلي في أفريقيا.
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تأتي القمة العربية المقبلة في الجزائر في الربيع المقبل، موعداً مناسباً لتقدم مسارات الانفتاح على سورية، وصولاً لتتويجها بحضور الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد قمة الجزائر، لتشكل القمة مدخلاً لإحياء المؤسسة العربية الرسمية التي تعطلت منذ الحرب على سورية، وتموضع أغلب النظام العربي على جبهاتها، فيعيد الحضور السوري بعض الحياة لنظام عربي ميت، ليشكل هذا النظام بثلاثيته في النظر لمخاطر الأمن القومي نحو تركيا وإيران و”إسرائيل”، أحد أركان نظام إقليمي جديد تقول المصلحة العربية إنه يقوم على تعاون مع إيران، وإدارة نظام مصالح مع تركيا، والتحصن بوجه الخطر الإسرائيلي، ويسعى بعض العرب لجعله نظام تعاون مع “إسرائيل” وإدارة مصالح مع تركيا، وعداء لإيران، ويسعى آخرون لجعله نظام تعاون مع تركيا وإدارة مصالح مع كل من إيران و”إسرائيل”، وتشكل سورية بيضة القبان في ترجيح الخيارات، وهذا مصدر الحاجة إليها والخوف من حضورها في الآن نفسه.
أن يقال إن سورية ككيان سياسي يحمل ثقل أوزان المكانة التاريخية والمكان الجغرافي، بيضة قبان توازنات المنطقة، فتلك حقيقة تؤكدها الأحداث الكبرى التي عرفها العالم على الصعيد الحضاري والثقافي والسياسي والاجتماعي والفني والديني خلال أكثر من ألفي سنة، فهي سورية التي منحت الإسلام دولته الأولى التي انطلق إلى العالم منها، وهي سورية التي منحت المسيحية كنيستها الأولى التي انطلق منها تلامذة السيد المسيح إلى الغرب والشرق، وهي سورية أبجدية أوغاريت، وزنوبيا ملكة تدمر، ووجهة الغزوات من المغول إلى الفرنجة، وسورية الشريك الحتمي بتحرير القدس من معركة حطين، والشريك بذات المقدار في حرب تشرين قبل نصف قرن، وهي سورية التي شكلت وجهة الحرب الكونية الهادفة لتغيير العالم من خلال تغييرها، بقطع طريق المتوسط على عمالقة آسيا، روسيا والصين وإيران، وهي سورية التي تخرج منتصرة من هذه الحرب لتعلن تغيير العالم بصورة معكوسة، كما انتجت شرق أوسط جديداً من رحم إسقاط مشروع إنشاء مشروع شرق أوسط جديد آخر.
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الحديث اليوم هو عن سورية الخارجة من الحرب بخط سياسي حوربت ليفرض عليها تغييره، هو الخط الذي مثله الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد، وهو خط يقوم على التمسك باستقلال سورية ووحدتها وتمسكها باستعادة جولانها المحتل حتى خط الرابع من حزيران، ودعمها لقوى المقاومة في لبنان وفلسطين والعراق، ورفضها لكل الصيغ الطائفية والعرقية التي تصيب وحدة المجتمع والدولة، وهي سورية التي انتصرت، ومن قبيل التوصيف السياسي الدقيق، هي سورية الأسد، التي كان مطلوباً تفكيكها وإسقاطها لصالح سورية أخرى، سواء سورية التطبيع مع كيان الاحتلال كما صرح عدد من قادة جماعات الحرب، أو سورية المقسمة إلى كيانات طائفية ومذهبية وعرقية، كما جاهر دعاة إعلان الإمارات الطائفية والإدارات الذاتية العرقية، أو سورية المتقاسمة تحت أشكال من الانتداب الأجنبي أو الرعاية الأجنبية كما تضمنت العروض الأميركية والتركية على كل من روسيا وإيران، وما نحن بصدده اليوم، هو أن سورية الأسد تنتصر وتنتقل بنصرها إلى إثبات أنها تستعيد لسورية التاريخ والجغرافيا مكانتها كبيضة قبان توازنات المنطقة، بعدما قيل الكثير عن أن بمستطاع سورية الأسد أن تنتصر لكنها لن تستعيد لسورية مكانتها، لأن استعادة هذه المكانة مشروط باعتراف الآخرين بها وبنصرها من دون أن تغير سياستها، بصفتها سورية الأسد، بثوابتها ومواقفها المعروفة.
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أهمية زيارة وزير خارجية الإمارات لدمشق وما تضمنته من إعلان نوايا واضح لترتيب العلاقات، أنها تفتح الطريق لمسار يشمل حلفاء الإمارات العرب وفي الغرب، وهم الحلفاء الذين قادوا وخاضوا الحرب على سورية بكل وحشيتها وعنفها والخراب الذي تسببت به، ويتم ذلك تحت عنوان التسليم بأنها سورية الأسد، أي سورية بثوابتها ومواقفها التي خيضت الحرب عليها لتغييرها، وتسليم دولة الإمارات التي كانت في طليعة حلفاء واشنطن ولا تزال، وطليعة خط التطبيع مع كيان الاحتلال، هو أعلى مراتب التسليم، لأن سورية التي ترحب بكل اعتراف دولي وإقليمي بنصرها بما في ذلك الاعتراف الأميركي عندما تنضج واشنطن لفعل شبيه بما فعلته الإمارات، أي العودة العلنية من باب الدبلوماسية الذي تشترطه سورية لكل علاقة، هي سورية التي تعرف أن العودة والتسليم لا يعنيان تفاهماً على السياسات، فالدول التي تتبادل السفراء والاعتراف والزيارات والاتفاقات، لا تتطابق في السياسات، لكنها تنطلق من الاعتراف بحتمية التساكن مع الخلافات وتنظيم إدارتها من دون أوهام القدرة على فرض التغيير بالقوة أو بالقطيعة أو الضغوط، وسورية لا تطلب من الآخرين أكثر من ذلك، وسورية لا تخفي أن في طليعة ما لن يتغير فيها موقفها من التطبيع ومن موقع الجولان في ثوابتها، ومكانة فلسطين كبوصلة لسياساتها.
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مزيد من الخطوات المقبلة ستشهدها علاقات العرب والغرب بسورية، وربما بينها زيارات رئاسية سورية إلى الخارج أو زيارات رئاسية خارجية إلى سورية، وصولاً للقمة العربية في الجزائر التي يفترض أن تشهد أول حضور سوري رسمي في الجامعة العربية، التي شكلت أداة من أدوات الحرب على سورية، ومع كل خطوة سيتأكد سوء طالع الذين راهنوا على إسقاط سورية، وخصوصاً الذين تطرفوا في العداء تبييضاً لوجوههم عند الذين خاضوا الحرب عليها، وهم يجدون من خاضوا الحرب يتراجعون ويرجعون إليها، ولم يبق للمبيضين إلا سواد الوجوه.
Assad is back, Syria’s Bashar al-Assad returns to the world stage in defeat for US, win for its foes, is the title of Newsweek’s latest front-page post on Syria and the US’s 10.5 years of war of terror and war of attrition against the Syrian people.
Let’s not discuss the mainstream media article, to be honest, I didn’t even bother to read it, if it’s positive it means they came to their senses, highly unlikely, if it’s not it means they’re still in their same propaganda, highly likely, so let’s talk about why Assad is back and why the US and its cronies lost in Syria, aside from them telling their followers for more than a decade it was the Syrian people vs. Assad and not the US vs. Assad.
Yes, President Assad is back and you all failed, the more than 100 countries that combined their evil efforts to topple him and hand Syria over to Al Qaeda and other anti-Islamic Muslim Brotherhood radicals the likes of the Turkish madman Erdogan who serves Israel.
He’s back because the Syrians weren’t fooled with your plot and lies, they fought back for more than 10.5 years to defend their country at a very hefty price but they didn’t surrender and they’ll fight back for another decade if needed, except this time not anymore on their land only.
Assad is back because he stood up, stood tall, and earned his people’s respect and the respect of the free people in the world, not the Sheeple of the west who think they’re free just because they can talk bad about their politicians who continue to suck their lives dry.
He’s back because the Syrian people never believed the mainstream media lies; only fools and Sheeple would believe again those who lied before several times to justify the Pentagon wars, only fools would believe that over 350,000 Al Qaeda terrorists armed by the USA and its cronies, financed by all of NATO taxpayers’ money, and the Gulfies, are in Syria to protect the Syrian families from their own brothers, sons, fathers, and sisters of the Syrian Arab Army, only fools would believe that the Syrian Arab Army would drop chemical weapons and bombs on their own family members to protect the president while Al Qaeda with all its derivatives are sent to Syria to protect those families, I’m not sure what drugs those Sheeple of the west are on, what I’m certain of it’s whoever their dealers are they didn’t cheat them and provided them with some real mind-absenting stuff.
President Assad was offered tens of billions of dollars just to retire in a place of his choice, he was offered to rule the region unchallenged just to accept the US policies, which is against the interests of his own people, then they went to threaten him and his family, they managed to kill his brother-in-law and his top aides and some of Syria’s top officials including the Syrian defense minister, he didn’t flee, he kept showing up in his office, on the frontlines, and among his people, driving alone, yes, something none of those NATO leaders dares to do in their ‘democratic’ societies, and above all, while they were plotting Syria’s destruction he was planning for victory, and victory he achieved.
Yes, Assad is back and you have to deal with it.
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The Syrian foreign minister’s aide, Dr. Ayman Sousan, stressed that Syria is so close to the ultimate victory over the terrorist war, hailing the steadfastness and sacrifices of the Syrian people as well as army.
In an interview with Al-Manar Website, Sousan pointed out that the Syrian army field progress and achievements in addition to the geopolitical conditions in the Middle East indicate that Syria’s victory is imminent.
Sousan hailed the allies who supported the Syrian army in its battles against the terrorist groups, highlighting the role of Hezbollah, Iran and Syria in this regard.
Meanwhile, Sousan welcomed the Iranian-Saudi talks, underscoring their strategic importance in the region.
Sousan emphasized that Syria’s membership in the Arab League was illegitimately suspended, adding that Syria may never alter its identity.
Finally,Sousan noted that Syria wants to restore its good relations with the Arab countries, stressing that ties with Turkey can never be restored before it withdraws its troops from all the Syrian territories.
Esteban CarrilloForeign and Expatriates Minister Faysal Mikdad confirmed a ‘change’ in the international political environment towards Syria in comments to Syrian media on 30 September.
Mikdad’s comments come amidst an opening of reconciliation between West, Gulf states and Syria
In comments to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Mikdad said that “the change has reflected the achievements of the Syrian Arab Army, in cooperation with allies and friends, on the ground in the war against terrorism.”
On 20 September, Mikdad led a Syrian delegation to a UN meeting in New York, where he also met with Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Felix Plasencia Gonzalez, on strengthening bilateral ties between Syria and Venezuela.
Regarding the General Assembly meetings, Mikdad said that while some countries, referring to the United States, continue to practice ‘economic terrorism,’ there was nonetheless a clear ‘retreat’ of the ‘hostile stance’ on Syria.
The Foreign Minister, appointed by Bashar al-Assad in November 2020, added that while Syria welcomes the “openness to the return of normal relations” with the UN and Western nations, he made clear that Syria “will not submit to pressures nor accept any political conditions.”
He also expressed optimism and the prospect of improved relations and cooperation with Syria and its Arab neighbors, following talks held between Syria and Egypt at the New York General Assembly.
In recent years, a number of Arab states, many of whom stood against Syria during the US and Gulf backed war, have sought rapproachment with Damascus.
With the UAE currently leading reconciliation efforts between Gulf Arab states and their allies, even Saudi Arabia reopened secret lines of communication between itself and Damascus, hoping to rectify ties.
Meanwhile, a number of developments between Jordan and Syria have advanced the increased diplomacy and economic cooperation between the two.
Jordan announced on 27 September that the Jaber–Nassib border crossing between itself and Syria will be reopened two days from the date for both freight and travelers.
On 29 September, this main border crossing was opened as planned, and direct flights to Damascus resumed.
Lebanon’s General Security Chief Abbas Ibrahim toldThe Cradle last week that he ‘totally’ is in favor of ‘open borders with Syria.
Damascus – The Head of Hezbollah’s Arab and International Relations Unit, Sayyed Ammar al-Moussawi, said that a victorious Syria gives strength to the Arab and Islamic worlds, and that its great position in the July 2006 war made it the main partner of the Islamic resistance in Lebanon in all its victories.
This comes as a delegation from the Arab Islamic National Conference is visiting Damascus to meet with President Bashar Al-Assad and the Palestinian resistance factions.
Al-Moussawi explained that the purpose of the visit was for the delegation to congratulate Al-Assad on his re-election as leader of Syria and to congratulate the Syrian people for their “clear” victory in the uprising of consciousness, which they expressed so clearly at the ballot boxes.
In an exclusive interview with Al-Ahed News, the head of Arab and International Relations in Hezbollah pointed out that the popular turnout in the Syrian presidential elections at home was not strange because internal sentiments are known.
“Those who remained in Syria sided with the state, but the influential phenomenon was the Syrians abroad. This is an important and influential indicator, which is the culmination of all victories, including the military victory. It indicates that the Syrians are returning to build their state, which will be better, more beautiful, and stronger than before,” he confirmed.
Al-Moussawi pointed out that Syria has always been an incubator for resistance movements, “and Hezbollah considers it a partner in the victory that was achieved by the men of the Islamic Resistance in the July war and the rest of the victories such as the Resistance and Liberation Day in May 2000.”
Prior to the anniversary of the July 2006 war and the victory of the resistance, al-Moussawi recalled the role of Syria in supplying the resistance with various types of weapons, especially the Kornet missiles, which contributed to disabling the “Israeli” Merkava tanks in a way that was unseen in previous Arab-“Israeli” wars.
He also recalled how Syria embraced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese people who were displaced by the Zionist aggression machine in Lebanon in July 2006.
Al-Moussawi stressed that Syria was an incubator of Arab nationalism and all the issues of the nation, and that it will undoubtedly return to be a key link in the Axis of Resistance.
The Western leadership and establishment media have once again derided the Syrian presidential vote, but the people don’t care. They’re too busy celebrating the outcome of the election and the defeat of terrorism in their country.
The irony of media outlets and pundits from America tweeting about what they view as the failure to hold free and fair elections in Syria was not lost on some.
I wrote yesterday of the jubilation I saw in eastern Ghouta, where Syrians were celebrating the arrival of election day and proudly voting. I also noted that people “in eastern Ghouta were put through a hell that most of us, living safely far from war, cannot begin to fathom.” Back in 2018, I had seen their tortured faces shortly after their liberation. That made seeing them this week smiling incredibly moving.
Just ahead of the vote, I predicted there would be Western cynicism if President Assad won again, which would mean the West had failed in its regime-change project. I was right.
Syrian analyst Kevork Almassian, of Syriana Analysis, tweeted a thread about the mass celebrations around Syria, including in Homs, once dubbed the “capital of the revolution” by the delusional crowd, and Aleppo, the city the Western media said “fell” when it was liberated of the terrorists who reportedly murdered up to 11,000 civilians via their bombings and snipings.
He also noted that the media’s claims of Sunni Muslims hating Assad had no basis in reality (never mind the fact that the First Lady is Sunni, as are many in top leadership positions), tweeting photos of masses of Sunnis voting.
The Guardian, guilty of some of the filthiest war propaganda against Syrians, and usually reporting from Istanbul, deemed the 2021 elections “fake” and a “sham”. But the Guardian has never liked to give voice to the vast majority of Syrians in Syria, preferring instead to quote al-Qaeda-linked “media activists” and “unnamed sources”. So, it’s hardly surprising it would denigrate the event that Syrians are currently celebrating around the country.
Likewise, the BBC, another contender for the most outstanding war propaganda on Syria, unsurprisingly cited the “opposition” as calling the elections a “farce”.
The Western media likewise bleated “farce” when Syria provided 17 witnesses to testify at the Hague against the claims that Syria had used a chemical agent in Douma – a narrative that has been thoroughly debunked. And they’re still lying after all these years.
This outstanding report from Syria by Eva Bartlett penetrates the ‘iron dome’ of Western propaganda, also known as news. It is about a chemical attack that never happened in a country attacked, subverted and blockaded in your name.https://t.co/AX1Zwbg0g0— John Pilger (@johnpilger) May 27, 2021
Speaking to Syrian media yesterday in Douma, Assad said of the West’s derision of the elections: “The best response to colonialist countries with histories of genocide and occupations was the mass turnout of the people for the vote.”
And, regarding what the West thinks of the legitimacy of those elections, he concluded: “Your opinions are worth zero, and you are worth 10 zeros.”
Amen to that.
On Wednesday, the government extended the time in which people could vote by an additional five hours, as they did back in 2014, due to the high turnout. It even had to provide more voting boxes. In fact, in 2014, in Lebanon, which hosts the largest per capita population of Syrian refugees in the world, voting was extended not merely by five hours, but by an entire day.
As I wrote recently, Western nations have closed Syrian embassies globally to prevent those eligible from voting. But interestingly, as I learned from political analyst Laith Marouf in our discussion this week, “Syrians in the US went to the embassy at the UN and voted. That was a direct challenge to American hegemony, since the Americans closed the Syrian embassy in DC. But there is still a Syrian embassy at the UN, and that they can’t touch, the Americans. So many people showed up at the UN headquarters, waving flags, and so on.”
According to Marouf, in Beirut, tens of thousands Syrians went to the Syrian embassy last week, but “members of the Lebanese Forces party cut the roads towards the embassy and attacked cars and buses carrying Syrian citizens,” allegedly killing one in front of his children and on national live television.
“The other two countries that host the majority of Syrian refugees or immigrant populations, Germany and Turkey, again blocked the Syrian votes from happening,” he said.
Marouf spoke of the candidates, noting there were three: a leader of the opposition, a former minister, and President Assad.
“They have been vetted through security, making sure that they stand for the sovereignty of Syria, given that Syria has been living under a global war of terrorism, led by the US.”
On the ground on election day
I wrote on election day of the vibrance and peace I witnessed in Douma, and tweeted about the celebrations, about the Syrians singing and dancing.
One woman in Irbeen, a village in eastern Ghouta, told me, “Today is historic. He is writing victory, a renewed victory for Syria, the general and protector of Syria, Bashar al Assad. The people you see coming, do so by their free will.”
A side note: from the cross necklace she wore, I knew the woman was a Christian. The “rebel” terrorists the West supports and whose sadistic death cult they would have installed to govern Syria would have persecuted, even killed, women like her.
And that’s the crux of it: Syrians aren’t just celebrating the leader they overwhelmingly love and respect, they’re celebrating the defeat of this terrorism in their country and of the imperialists’ regime-change project in Syria.
A Syrian-American friend, Johnny Achi, flew to Syria expressly to vote in the elections. He told me: “I’m a Syrian citizen and have lived in the United States for about 30 years. I’m here in Damascus to exercise my rights and duties as a Syrian citizen, since the US chose to close our embassies. As long as the embassies are closed, we’re going to keep making the trip here, to exercise our duty and our democratic right.”
“I chose Douma, in eastern Ghouta, under the ‘rebels’ until 2018, to show that there is a big turnout here, that people are happy to be back in a government-controlled area. Everyone I talked to is so jubilant that they got rid of all of Jaysh al-Islam, Faylaq al-Rahman, and all those brigades that were making their lives miserable,” he said.
In Achi’s view, the US would not have accepted any of the candidates, no matter who won.
The pundits will opine, the media will screech, but aside from addressing that, I don’t care, and Syrians don’t care because they’re too busy celebrating.
On Thursday, while the votes were still being counted, I passed through Umayyad Square, a massive roundabout in central Damascus, where a party was beginning. Later in the evening, I returned, staying until after the votes had been counted and Assad had been declared the winner. Electric doesn’t even begin to describe the mood of triumphant Syrians celebrating their victory.
I’ve been coming to Syria since 2014, making 15 visits in all, gathering many heartbreaking testimonies, being caught up in many dangerous encounters with mortars and terrorist sniper fire. I, too, celebrate the return of peace to Syria. But, moreover, I celebrate the Syrians’ shunning of Western diktats and for continuing to live their lives as they choose.
As I stood filming cheering Syrians, the results were announced. The crowd went wild and the party continued. Of course, Western media outlets won’t accept Assad’s 95.1% result, but those Syrians simply do not care. They know the West has lost the plot.
Syria’s presidential elections signify the country’s victory in the decade-long Hybrid War of Terror and will help it transition towards its inevitable post-war future.
The Hybrid War of Terror on Syria isn’t yet fully over, but the country’s presidential elections nevertheless signify its victory. The entire purpose of that campaign was to forcefully remove President Assad from office, after which Syria would surrender its sovereignty to its neighbors, first and foremost “Israel” and Turkey. The country’s infrastructure and economy have been devastated by the humanitarian crisis that this conflict provoked, yet the Syrian people still stand strong. Although there exist some among them who despise their leader, the vast majority of the Syrian people still proudly support him, in some cases even more now after ten years of war than they did at its onset. That’s because many of them eventually realized that this is about much more than him personally, but the future of their civilization-state.
As it stands, Syria is presently divided into three “spheres of influence” – the liberated majority of the country, the American-controlled eastern portion beyond the Euphrates River, and the sliver of Turkish-controlled territory along the northern border that also importantly includes Idlib. Syrians in the last two regions didn’t have the chance to exercise their democratic rights since the occupying authorities naturally prevented them from doing so. In fact, they’ve made it all but impossible to reunify the country since the military situation is such that the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) doesn’t want to risk a much larger war by attacking NATO forces there despite having the international legal right to expel the invaders. Resolving this dilemma will be among the top tasks facing President Assad during his next term seeing as how few doubt that he’ll win the elections.
I proposed some solutions in the analyses that I published back in February about how “Syria Should Talk With The US Since Its Iranian & Russian Allies Are Already Doing So” and “Balancing Regional Interests In Syria Is The Only Way To Reach A Compromise Solution”. In short, some form of decentralization granting broader political rights to the occupied regions might be a pragmatic means of resolving this dilemma, though of course, the devil is in the details so to speak. Iran’s military presence in the country, despite being legal and premised on fighting international terrorism there, is a major problem for the US. It’s unlikely that America will agree to any compromise solution so long as Iranian forces remain in Syria, but it’s also equally unlikely that Syria will ask them to leave, even through a phased but dignified withdrawal. Damascus depends on Tehran’s anti-terrorist support, and the Iranian presence also prevents Syria from falling under disproportionate Russian influence.
On the topic of Russian-Syrian relations, ties remain excellent and continue to diversify into other fields beyond the military one, but there hasn’t been as much progress on courting Russian businesses as Syria had hoped. The unilateral US sanctions regime acts as a powerful deterrent to reconstruction efforts, though these are unlikely to be lifted so long as Iranian military forces remain in the country. America seems to have realized that President Assad isn’t going anywhere since he genuinely enjoys tremendous grassroots support among the vast majority of his people so regime change no longer remains a viable policy option. Instead, the US will predictably seek to transition towards “regime tweaking”, or pressuring Syria to make certain political changes that accommodate American interests such as decentralization.
It’s unclear whether such a policy will succeed, especially remembering that Iran probably won’t be asked to withdraw from Syria, so observers can expect for this issue to remain unresolved for the indefinite future. That being the case, President Assad’s other top priority is to more comprehensively rebuild the liberated majority of the country. This will be difficult so long as the US’ unilateral sanctions regime and secondary sanctions threats remain in place, but progress could prospectively be achieved through a combination of Russian, Iranian, Chinese, and Emirati efforts. So long as their companies have the will to face possible American sanctions, which is admittedly questionable, they’ll be able to help rebuild Syria. As an incentive, Damascus could offer them preferential partnerships, but this still might not be enough for some of them to take that risk.
It’s indeed possible for there to be no political or economic breakthroughs in Syria anytime soon, in which case the country will continue to struggle but nevertheless continue making gradual progress in a positive direction. The only real security threats that remain come from ISIS sleeper cells, mostly outside the most populated areas judging by recent reports about their attacks. This will always be a problem and probably won’t ever be fully resolved considering the nature of the threat itself. Even so, the Syrian intelligence agencies and their allies will continue to infiltrate and dismantle such groups, but some will always evade detection until it’s too late. That, however, shouldn’t represent any considerable obstacle to Syria’s gradual reconstruction, but highly publicized attacks might dissuade all but the bravest international investors.
Another priority of President Assad’s next term in office will be encouraging his compatriots who fled over the past decade to return home and help rebuild their country. Some will decide not to if they retain political grievances or committed war crimes of course, but it’s expected that more Syrians will eventually move back over the coming years. The state will therefore have to continue supporting this special category of citizens, made all the more difficult by the never-ending economic crises caused by the US’ unilateral sanctions regime, but it also has a lot to gain in the sphere of soft power so it’ll probably do its best in this respect in order to show the world that the situation is normalizing. With time, and combined with possible investment incentives amid continually improving security, Syria might be able to turn the tide on its economic crisis.
Returning back to the lead-in topic of this analysis, the strategic significance of the Syrian elections, it can be said that they represent a new phase of normalization there. The last ones in 2014 took place during the worsening war, but this time everything is comparatively much better. The Western Mainstream Media will continue to delegitimize the Syrians’ exercise of their democratic rights, but policymakers will pragmatically realize that it’s a dead-end for them to continue agitating for regime change. Syria might even eventually repair some of its political relations with certain Western countries, not right away of course, but with time. Its political and economic challenges will likely remain unresolved for a while, but even so, the world should realize that Syria emerged victorious in the decade-long Hybrid War of Terror and that better days are surely ahead.
President Bashar Assad delivered his victory speech after declaring the presidential election results, the televised speech is full of strong words, messages to the Syrian people, their friends, and to their enemies, and vows to start a new constitutional term with more determination on completing the battle against the enemies and to rebuild the country.
In a televised speech, the Syrian President who was re-elected with a whopping 95.1% of the votes, sent several messages to his people and to the enemies abroad, charged with the strength and determination he received from the Syrians who proved once again their steadfastness to continue battling the regime change, occupation, and stealing of their riches by voting again to President Assad for a 4th term, the 2nd based on the recent constitution of 2012, and they voted in an unprecedented flocking to the voting centers all over the country challenging the terrorist threats and ignoring the comments from some western countries and their regional stooges as the approval of those parties is not required to determine who will be leading Syria.
The following is the video clip with English subtitles, followed by the full transcript in English, the translation is partly done by the Syrian News Agency SANA:
Dear fellow citizens, my brothers in loyalty and belonging (to Syria),
In each national entitlement, whether this entitlement was a defense by weapon, opinion, work, or a constitutional entitlement, you have always been making your special definition for the meaning of patriotism, and in every stage that we have been through, your definition has carried special messages, whether for the friend or the enemy, which stems from the conditions of that stage and suits its challenges.
And despite that your several messages didn’t lack, at any time of the war, the wisdom, eloquence, and clearness in their terms, and the deep meaning carried in its lines and in between the lines, but the enemies and opponents have insisted to avoid and deny them, as part of their policies based on denying the reality, denying the failure and defeat of the their policies, and not recognizing the deterioration of their principles and ethics, and they seemed during the latest years that they were infected with insanity… as they see through their eyes, but they don’t see through their minds.
In this entitlement (the presidential election), your definition of patriotism did not differ in its context but it differed in the way and manner, and it will inevitably differ in results and repercussions, your messages will penetrate all barriers and shields they have put around their minds, and it will shift their minds from the willful lethargy state they lived in for years to the coercive thinking state of what is happening on the ground.
What have you done during the past weeks was not a mere celebration in an occasion, nor was it an expression of patriotic emotion or enthusiasm, or adherence to a national duty which is participation in the presidential election; rather what happened goes beyond all that, in wide-scale and great distances. What you have done was a phenomenon of unprecedented challenge to enemies of the homeland of all their nationalities, loyalties, and dependences.
It has broken their false arrogance and pride, and was a slap on the faces of their agents, this challenge was on the highest level of expressing true and deep loyalty to the homeland, it was sending messages in the strongest terms to persons who were sitting in the dark rooms plotting schemes and intrigues dreaming of success at the expense of our blood, money, dignity, and honor, and who will mourn their misfortune again with their tools for their miscalculations, short-sightedness, and lack of understanding the reality and the nature and the essence of this people.
You have turned the scales and broken the game rules and undoubtedly affirmed that those rules are set and determined only here, and made here, and is specified here by our own hands, and that there is no place for partners except for the brothers and friends.
You have redefined patriotism, and this automatically means redefining treason, and the difference between them is like the difference between the so-called the revolution of rebels and what we have witnessed the agitation of bulls, it is like the difference between a rebel (Tha’er in Arabic) that absorbs honor and a bull (Thawr in Arabic) that fed with fodder, between a rebel whose way is honor and pride and a bull that is fond of disgrace and shame, and between a rebel who kneels to his creator and a bull who falls into prostration for the dollar.
You have defined the revolution and brought back its brilliance after part of mercenaries, who lack honor and bear a Syrian passport, have defamed its name, you’ve rescued the reputation (of the revolution) and you’ve relaunched it, so what happened were not celebrations, but rather a revolution in the true sense of the word, not metaphorical, a revolution against terrorism, treason and moral deterioration, a revolution of the tongue, pen, work, and a weapon.
A revolution entitled “honor” against every fallen who has agreed for himself to be a ride on which others can ride to take them wherever they want.
Brothers, gentlemen and lady citizens,
The people choosing me to serve them in the coming constitutional period is a great honor that only the honor of belonging to this people can live up to, not only in the identity card, but in the opinions, aspirations, values, and habits, and what increases my enthusiasm and confidence in future is the spirit of challenge you have, which without it, the bearer of the responsibility cannot face the largest national challenges, and without it a homeland cannot rise up after 10 years of war.
It is your potential strength, which appears in its clear form in the major milestones, provoked by challenges and transformed by your will into action and achievement.
It is the mighty energy that provides the nation with strength and prepares it for victory and triumph.,
I am confident that with this fighting spirit, we will be able to defeat all our enemies, no matter how many fights, and how much the horrors intensify.
This spirit is what we need for the next stage which is a stage of continuous work, resistance and steadfastness in order to prove to our enemies once again that fighting our people through their basic needs and livelihood, would not affect, but increase their commitment to homeland and all of what it represents.
And this people, at the major challenges and entitlements, has always proven that the country is above all.
Brothers, dearest ones, I greet every Syrian citizen who has expressed, through his/her own way, his love to the homeland in every city, town, and village, whether through rallies, popular gatherings, or other ways, I greet and salute every individual, family and tribe who have shown their utmost belonging to their country and raised its flag and withstood in the war and challenged in the entitlement.
I salute our citizens abroad who have integrated through their messages from outside with the messages of their brothers inside, where the far distance and obstacles have not prevented them from participating enthusiastically in the election, and to those who have not been able to cast vote under pressures or intimidation they exerted upon them, we say that your votes have reached, with doubled force, not through the ballot box, but through your stance, so the message has been delivered to the enemies and the patriotic mission has been fulfilled.
You’ve lived a proud people that does not accept dishonor, you’ve a proud people who does not submit to hardship and does not bow down to anyone but God.
Long live and long live Syria, free, honorable, strong, and invincible, peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.
End of the English transcript.
This is the first time President Assad uses such strong terms to describe the terrorists acting as rebels in a revolution, describing them as bulls in Arabic and in the context he put is not a favorable description at all.
The Syrian president also raised the level of challenge against the west and described them as disconnected from reality, created their own vision, and blocked themselves from seeing the developments on the ground, ‘they’re infected with insanity,’ and they’re (the enemies of Syria are) ‘not recognizing the deterioration of their principles and ethics’, President Assad describing the likes of officials in the USA, France, Germany, and other countries which have tried to interfere in the Syrian presidential election
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UPROOTED PALESTINIANS: SALAM ALQUDS ALAYKUM 