Foreign Ministry: Bid to Topple Syrian Government has Failed
The bid to overthrow Syria's government is over, and the battle now is to secure stability, foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdisi said in a report by state media on Saturday.
"The battle to topple the state is over, and the battle to solidify stability... and move on towards a renewed Syria has begun," Makdisi was cited as saying by the official SANA news agency.
Makdisi said that the focus of President Bashar Assad's government was also to "rally visions behind the reform process" and "prevent those who seek to sabotage reform."
The declaration was made in an interview originally carried on Syrian television.
He also said the Syrian army will withdraw from urban areas "once peace and security prevail.”
"The presence of the Syrian Arab army in Syrian cities is for defensive purposes (so) as to protect the civilians," Makdisi was quoted as saying by SANA.
"Once peace and security prevail, the army is to pull out," he added.
SANA said that Makdisi made the appearance on television in a bid to explain to Syrians why the government accepted a peace plan drawn up by U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.
Annan appealed for an immediate ceasefire on Friday, as monitors said at least 39 people -- all but seven of them civilians -- were killed across Syria as security forces sought to crush a year-long uprising.
13 years
Aoun said the revolution was over 5 months ago, how well did that prediction turn out?
"rally visions behind the reform process" and "prevent those who seek to sabotage reform." Except he hasn't mentioned reforms in years until the people rose up against him so why should he be trusted with reforms? It's all lip service till things calm down then back to business as usual if the rebels stop.
This person sounds like a member of the Syrian foreign ministry.
13 years
when are these governments going to learn that their people aren't idiots?
13 years
Love4bashar yu are an idiot. This is exactly what Hitler, saddam used to say and do. people like you going to end-up like their supportes.
Bashar is a dictator, killer. nothing more then that.. he is going to have a bad ending
13 years
Nade... Hitler and Saddam were finished by a foreign invasion. This is not going to happen in Syria, so it's a poor comparison.
After the west saw what happened in Libya, when the British and Australians sided and fought for the anti gadafi rebellion. They were rewarded with Sunni fanatics (al Qaida friends) desecrating the graves of British and Australian WW2 graves. They destroyed every grave and spitting and destroying the cemetry cross and yelling Allah Akbar (this was not reported on naharnet). The west is no longer willing to help these type of people who are the same people attacking and suicide bombing the syrian government.
13 years
April fools comes one day early in Syria
that's what you would like to think :)