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With PCN-SPO – SANA – RIA Novosti / 2013 01 06 /
Assad denounced the opposition as "puppets of the West" and said Syria wanted to negotiate with the "master not the servants." He said the reconciliation conference would exclude "those who have betrayed Syria."
SYRIA’S ASSAD TO ADDRESS NATION – STATE MEDIA
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has delivered “a rare speech on Sunday in which he is expected to focus on the conflict in the country”, the official SANA news agency has said.
“President Bashar al-Assad will deliver a speech on Sunday on the latest developments in Syria and the region,” the agency said in a statement.
In his address, Assad will express his view on how to resolve the 21-month crisis in the Middle East country and discuss latest agreements reached in Geneva at the meeting of foreign ministers from the permanent members of the UN Security Council.
At least 60,000 people have been killed in Syria’s conflict between government forces and the opposition, which comprises groups of all stripes, from fractions of Communists (other patriotic communists are members of the national salvation governement of Assad) and liberals to Islamist groups, including Al-Qaeda.
Western powers have insisted on President Bashar al-Assad’s departure before the formation of a new government of national unity while Russia insisted that the decision be left to the “Syrian people.”
ASSAD’ S PEACE PLAN
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has proposed a plan to resolve the country’s crisis “which includes a national reconciliation conference, the formation of a new government and an amnesty”.
– "The first stage of a political solution would require that regional powers stop funding terrorists.
– The second stage will be calling a government conference on a national dialogue.
– The third stage will be the formation of a new government and declaration of an amnesty,” Assad said in a speech at the opera house in central Damascus.
In his rare televised speech, which was met with cheering applause by his numberous supporters, Assad denounced the opposition as "puppets of the West" and said Syria wanted to negotiate with the "master not the servants." He said the reconciliation conference would exclude "those who have betrayed Syria."
The Syrian leader said “a national charter, which will include the main provisions of the new constitution, is to be established at the conference and put to a referendum, leading to parliamentary elections and a new government”.
Assad also thanked Russia, China and Iran for their support of Syria and their stance that the Syrian people should alone decide their faith. "We salute you and we thank you for your support,” he said. Assad called too for a "war to defend the nation", describing rebels fighting him as terrorists and foreign agents.