Europe, the US, and Turkey are the main players in creating chaos and supporting terrorism in Syria, and the Russian deployment east of the country balanced their “negative role,” announced Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Assad said Europe is the main player in creating this chaos by supporting the terrorists from the very beginning, adding that some regimes like the French regime sent armaments.
“They sent armaments; they created this chaos. That’s why a lot of people find it difficult to stay in Syria; millions of people couldn’t live here so they had to get out of Syria.”
Assad was speaking in an interview with Italian Rai News 24 TV on November 26, 2019 which was expected to be broadcast on December 2nd, but state TV broadcast it after the Italian TV refrained from doing so.
Asked about the Russian role in Syria, Assad said that Russians believe that international law, and international order based on it, is in their interest and in the interest of everybody in the world.
He indicated that by supporting Syria, Moscow is supporting international law, adding that being against the terrorists is in the interest of Russian people and the rest of the world.
The Syrian President indicated that he would only meet former ally Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan if his country’s interests called for it.
“I always say that my job is not to be happy with what I’m doing... It’s not about my feelings, it’s about the interests of Syria, so wherever our interests go, I will go.”
In his first comment on recent developments in Lebanon, Assad said it would affect Syria more than any other country because they are neighboring countries.
“But again, if it’s spontaneous and it’s about reform and getting rid of the sectarian political system, that would be good for Lebanon.”
Regarding reconstructing Syria, Assad explained that the funds are available, but the problem is that sanctions prevent the businessmen or companies from coming and working in the country.
However, he asserted that “some foreign companies have started finding ways to evade these sanctions and we have started planning. It’s going to be slow, without the sanctions we wouldn’t have a problem with funding.”