Damascus: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has defended political reforms implemented by his government and continued to blame terrorists and foreign powers for violence in the country.
Addressed the country’s parliament on Sunday, he said they had to fight terrorism for the country to heal.
“We will not be lenient. We will be forgiving only for those who renounce terrorism. What we are facing is a conspiracy of sedition, division and destruction of our homeland.”
“We are not facing a political problem because if we were this party would put forth a political programme. What we are facing is (an attempt) to sow sectarian strife and the tool of this is terrorism,” he said in the speech making a rare public appearance as Damascus confronts rising international condemnation over its crackdown on the 15-month uprising.
“We will continue firmly confronting terrorism, leaving the door open for those who want to return… I urge all those who are still hesitant to do so, to take this step. The state will not take revenge.”
“This crisis is not an internal crisis. It is an external war carried out by internal elements. The masks have fallen and the international role in the Syrian events is now obvious,” Aljazeera quoted Assad as saying.
“We started a difficult reform process and we took some important steps according to a declared timetable. We welcome new members who will bring new blood to parliament and appreciate your will to run for office in these difficult times.”
“Syria will always be a symbol of resistance and defending rights. Holding elections on time was the response to the criminal killers and those who finance them.”
“Fulfilling your legislative role rightly needs a vision based on dialogue inside parliament and staying in touch with citizens.”
“What happened in Houla and elsewhere (in Syria) are brutal massacres which even monsters would not have carried out.”
“If we don’t feel the pain that squeezes our hearts, as I felt it, for the cruel scenes – especially the children – then we are not human beings.”
He said that their country would recover and their citizens would enjoy peace, stability and sovereignty. He added that if they work together, than the end the current situation is near.
Assad’s speech was his first appearance since the massacre a week ago in the central town of Houla that killed more than 100 people, nearly half of them were children.
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