Assad Announces Truce Terms

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Syrian President Bashar al Assad in his statement to Spain’s El Pais daily in Syrian capital Damascus has said that truce alone won’t be sufficient to stop violence in the country.

Assad has expressed that Damascus is ready for a long-term truce, however, the opponents and countries aiding the opponents should not use this truce for their own interests.

“Turkey bombs on Kurds for this reason”

Sputnik news reported that Assad reminding they are ready to stop military operations and call truce, none the less stopping violence depends on more than one factor.

“First of all, terror organizations should not use the truce to develop their status. Other countries, especially Turkey should be prevented from providing arms or all sorts of logistics support”.

Assad went on saying that “Syrian army and Kurdish forces try to block the roads between Turkey and the terrorists, and that is the reason why Turkey bombs Kurds”.

“We will grant an amnesty if they lay down arms”

Assad has promised amnesty to all opponents willing to join the political process by laying down their arms. “We will continue to treat all armed groups as terrorists as long as they proclaim that they are ready to enter political process”, added Assad.

“We will grant an amnesty if they lay down arms. We’ve been doing this for two years. We granted an amnesty in the recent period as well. Most of them have laid down arms, and some have joined the Syrian army.

“These people can be included in the jurisdiction if and only if they lay down arms and participate in political process. This is the only way for a country to return to its former state, and change its constitution or government. This transformation cannot be actualized by arms but by means of political process”.   

Is he going to be in power 10 years later?

Assad said he wants to be remembered as “the one who has saved Syria”.

“What matters is how I see my country. In the next 10 years, I managed to save Syria as a president…In fact, it doesn’t entail that I will still be the president, I am just talking about my foresights for the next 10 years. Syrian has become a safe place and it is me succeeding it…That is my task at the moment. I am speaking as a citizen of Syria.

“My intention is not to remain in power [even after 10 years]. I don’t care about being in power. If Syrian people want me to be in power, then I will. If they don’t, then there is nothing else to do. I have to lay down my office if I won’t be able to help my country”. (AS/TK)