Assad: I will recover control of Syria
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he wants negotiations to be held with the opposition, but also the continuation of the war against armed rebels.
"From the beginning of the crisis, we strongly believe in negotiations and political action. However, to negotiate does not mean that the fight against terrorism stops. These two aspects are the sine qua non in Syria. The first is independent of the second, "said Assad in an exclusive interview with AFP.
Assad said determined to regain control of the whole of Syria, but acknowledged that the fighting against rebels seeking to overthrow the last five years will be 'long' duration.
"It is reasonable to say that there is a part of our territory from which they give up," explained the Syrian president in the interview that he gave AFP from Damascus.
This was the first interview to media after the fiasco last month, the proximity talks in Geneva starting at the beginning of the month, a large military operation in the province of Aleppo by his forces, supported Russian Air Force.
"Either we do it or not, this is a goal that we seek to achieve without hesitation," he replied when asked if he considers that his forces are able to regain full control of the country's territory.
Referring to the "major battle" for Aleppo, Assad said that the goal is to "cut the connection" of this province with Turkey, not just the recapture of the second largest city of Syria and of the homonymous province.
The rate of this connection is important because it is the "main supply route for terrorists," said the Syrian president.
Even the Bashar al-Assad called on Europe to create conditions to help the return of Syrian refugees in the country.
"I want to appeal to European governments, which directly contributed to the exodus of Syrian refugees providing cover for terrorists and imposing embargo on Syria to contribute to the return of the Syrians in their homes."
The Syrian president specially invited France to "change policy" in Syria to "fight terrorism", whereas there is left to his own country to "make a gesture" to Paris to improve bilateral relations.
Asked about the departure of Laurent Fabius from his position as French Foreign Minister, moreover, Assad stated that "the change of persons is not really important" and that is "more the policy change" that counts.
Still, the interview Assad referred to the risk of having land military intervention by Turkey and Saudi Arabia to Syrian territory, repeating the warning Damascus that Syrian forces will resist in such circumstances.
"It is a possibility which I can not rule out, for the simple reason that Erdogan is intransigent, radical, in favor of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Ottoman dream lives. Not so for Saudi Arabia. In each case, such action will not be easy for them and certainly will resist, "he said.
Furthermore the Bashar al-Assad categorically rejected accusations of the United Nations that his regime responsible for committing war crimes, arguing that the majority of the reports of UN agencies on this issue is "politicized" and unfounded.
UN investigators have accused Damascus Monday that "kills" detainees in Syrian prisons.
"In the UN institutions essentially Western forces dominate and the majority of the reports are politicized" and not "contain evidence" supported the president of Syria.
"For this reason I am not afraid neither threats nor accusations," he replied when asked by AFP if afraid he can be brought before an international tribunal to answer for the war.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he wants negotiations to be held with the opposition, but also the continuation of the war against armed rebels.
"From the beginning of the crisis, we strongly believe in negotiations and political action. However, to negotiate does not mean that the fight against terrorism stops. These two aspects are the sine qua non in Syria. The first is independent of the second, "said Assad in an exclusive interview with AFP.
Assad said determined to regain control of the whole of Syria, but acknowledged that the fighting against rebels seeking to overthrow the last five years will be 'long' duration.
"It is reasonable to say that there is a part of our territory from which they give up," explained the Syrian president in the interview that he gave AFP from Damascus.
This was the first interview to media after the fiasco last month, the proximity talks in Geneva starting at the beginning of the month, a large military operation in the province of Aleppo by his forces, supported Russian Air Force.
"Either we do it or not, this is a goal that we seek to achieve without hesitation," he replied when asked if he considers that his forces are able to regain full control of the country's territory.
Referring to the "major battle" for Aleppo, Assad said that the goal is to "cut the connection" of this province with Turkey, not just the recapture of the second largest city of Syria and of the homonymous province.
The rate of this connection is important because it is the "main supply route for terrorists," said the Syrian president.
Even the Bashar al-Assad called on Europe to create conditions to help the return of Syrian refugees in the country.
"I want to appeal to European governments, which directly contributed to the exodus of Syrian refugees providing cover for terrorists and imposing embargo on Syria to contribute to the return of the Syrians in their homes."
The Syrian president specially invited France to "change policy" in Syria to "fight terrorism", whereas there is left to his own country to "make a gesture" to Paris to improve bilateral relations.
Asked about the departure of Laurent Fabius from his position as French Foreign Minister, moreover, Assad stated that "the change of persons is not really important" and that is "more the policy change" that counts.
Still, the interview Assad referred to the risk of having land military intervention by Turkey and Saudi Arabia to Syrian territory, repeating the warning Damascus that Syrian forces will resist in such circumstances.
"It is a possibility which I can not rule out, for the simple reason that Erdogan is intransigent, radical, in favor of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Ottoman dream lives. Not so for Saudi Arabia. In each case, such action will not be easy for them and certainly will resist, "he said.
Furthermore the Bashar al-Assad categorically rejected accusations of the United Nations that his regime responsible for committing war crimes, arguing that the majority of the reports of UN agencies on this issue is "politicized" and unfounded.
UN investigators have accused Damascus Monday that "kills" detainees in Syrian prisons.
"In the UN institutions essentially Western forces dominate and the majority of the reports are politicized" and not "contain evidence" supported the president of Syria.
"For this reason I am not afraid neither threats nor accusations," he replied when asked by AFP if afraid he can be brought before an international tribunal to answer for the war.
