MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-ASSAD Assad says political solution possible only after conflict ends

Record ID: 141127

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-ASSAD Assad says political solution possible only after conflict ends
  • Date: 15th September 2015
  • Summary: SAID TO BE DAMASCUS, SYRIA (RECENT) (RUSSIAN POOL) (SOUNDBITE) (Russian translation over English) SYRIAN PRESIDENT, BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING (AUDIO CONTINUES OVER WIDE OF RUSSIAN MEDIA AROUND TABLE AND BACK TO ASSAD): "We have to continue the dialogue in order to reach a consensus. However if we want real success - it is impossible, while people are dying, while bloodshed is going on and while people don't feel absolutely secure. Let's assume we have managed to come to an agreement with political parties and forces on political and economic issues, on science, public health or any other issues. But how can we implement those agreements, if the priority issue for a Syrian citizen is security? Thus we can reach consensus, but cannot put anything into effect until we defeat terrorism in Syria." WHITE FLASH FRAME (SOUNDBITE) (Russian translation over English) SYRIAN PRESIDENT, BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING (AUDIO CONTINUES OVER WIDE OF RUSSIAN MEDIA / PART MUTE): "The question is not about whether Europe is taking refugees or not but about the necessity to remove the prime cause of the issue. If Europeans are concerned with the fate of the refugees, they should stop supporting terrorists. This is our opinion on the problem. This is the essence of the whole refugee issue." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian translation over Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT, BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING (AUDIO CONTINUES OVER WIDE OF RUSSIAN MEDIA / PART MUTE): "I would like to use our meeting today (with journalists) to address all forces with a call to unite in our fight against terrorism because this is the only way to achieve political aims, put by the Syrians, through dialogue and political process." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian translation over Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT, BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING (AUDIO CONTINUES OVER WIDE OF RUSSIAN MEDIA, BACK TO ASSAD / PART MUTE): "If we ask any Syrian today what does he want right now, the first answer will be: security (OVER JOURNALISTS LISTENING) and stability (BACK TO ASSAD). Thus we, the political forces, both inside the government and outside authority are bound to consolidate around the demands of the Syrian people." WHITE FLASH FRAME (SOUNDBITE) (Russian translation over Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT, BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING (AUDIO CONTINUES OVER WIDE OF RUSSIAN MEDIA / PART MUTE): "The Kurds for us are a part of Syrian society, they are not strangers, they have been living on this soil like the Arabs, Circassians, Armenians and many other nations and faiths, who have been co-existing in Syria from olden times. It's unknown when some of those nations appeared in the region. The existence of a monolithic society is impossible without those components."
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9AIJFVGZ9SYTOYU982ZWCGQ71
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING - RUSSIAN TRANSLATION OVER AUDIO OF BASHAR AL-ASSAD SPEAKING ENGLISH AND ARABIC
    A political solution will only be possible in Syria after 'terrorists' are defeated there, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview to Russian media published on Tuesday (September 15).
    "We have to continue the dialogue in order to reach a consensus. However if we want real success - it is impossible, while people are dying, while bloodshed is going on and while people don't feel absolutely secure. Let's assume we have managed to come to an agreement with political parties and forces on political and economic issues, on science, public health or any other issues. But how can we implement those agreements, if the priority issue for a Syrian citizen is security? Thus we can reach consensus, but can not put anything into effect until we defeat terrorism in Syria," Assad told a group of Russian journalists during an interview said to have taken place in Damascus.
    The Syrian President said the refugee crisis unravelling in Europe was a direct result of the region "supporting terrorists".
    "The question is not about whether Europe is taking refugees or not but about the necessity to remove the prime cause of the issue. If Europeans are concerned with the fate of the refugees, they should stop supporting terrorists. This is our opinion on the problem. This is the essence of the whole refugee issue."
    Assad stressed the need to create a united front to battle insurgent groups in Syria, adding a political process and dialogue was the only option.
    "I would like to use our meeting today (with journalists) to address all forces with a call to unite in our fight against terrorism because this is the only way to achieve political aims, put by the Syrians, through dialogue and political process."
    Assad's interview with Russian media was published just days after U.S. officials indicated that Russia is increasing its military presence in Syria and expressed concern about whether Moscow is boosting support for Assad.
    Moscow has come under increased international pressure in recent days to explain its moves in Syria, where the Kremlin has been supporting al-Assad in a 4-1/2-year war.
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