Text: President Assad's Veiled Threat To German Troops In Lebanon

2006-10-01

President Assad's Interview with Spanish El Pais Newspaper

Damascus, Oct. 01 (SANA - Syrian News Agency)- President Bashar al-Assad summarized in an interview with the Spanish best selling newspaper of El- Pais Syria's stances over the regional and international developments, particularly after the Israeli war on Lebanon as well as several topics regarding internal affairs.

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On the safe return of the Spanish troops participating in the UNIFIL to their country, President Assad said that "if Spain or the other countries commit themselves to Spain's neutral stance, and not like the stance of the Germans who said they have come to protect Israel. these forces should not come to be part of the Lebanese problem. this means that if a later resolution is issued by the UN Security Council under the 7th Article, then these forces would become part of the problem." ... President Assad pointed out to Syria's cooperation with the issues of the existence of technical equipment to supervise the borders as proposed by UN chief Kofi Annan and the Italians. He indicated that these procedures are all "time wasting as they are an escape from the big solution."

His Excellency added that "experience in our region over the past decades has proved that if resistance has a public support then it can get what it wants. so time should not be wasted in small things like this subject."

The President pointed out that the countries concerned have no choice but to have confidence in Syria "because if there is a real desire in smuggling then neither the UN Security Council resolutions nor all technologies or armies of the world can prevent this process... there must be a return to the peace."

President Assad reiterated Syria's support to the resistance as long as there is occupation to the lands, particularly that our lands are also occupied.

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His Excellency went on to say that "our stance in Syria over the current situation in Lebanon is to encourage the Lebanese dialogue. but surely we support the Lebanese national trends which don't accept foreign intervention."

On the situation of some arrested people in Syria, President Assad pointed out that nobody in the past intervened with the groups that continuously criticized the State in Syria.

The President indicated that "the subject is quite different as there are groups from Lebanon which publicly and officially called on the US to occupy Damascus and strike Syria, and these according to the Syrian law have become in the enemy line, and any person or state that calls for occupying your country is an enemy.

These groups have dealt directly with these forces.and there was an official meeting and direct coordination with them.and this according to the law immediately leads to prison because it's a dealing with an enemy."

His Excellency pointed out that the number of those are more than 200, ten of them who were considered as responsible were detained, and then with the investigations six were released. "The trail proceedings are continuous as any other trial. there are lawyers... and other persons may be released. we don't intervene in the case as it has nothing to do with the opinion or something like that. it's rather a case of relations with somebody who is considered an enemy."

On the existing situation between Syria and Israel, President Assad said "the problem is linked to two sides not one side... this situation is linked to one thing which is peace.or maybe war if there is no peace process."

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Ahmad F. ZAHRA / Mazen

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis