WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.234 Syria for the hour. 2 00:00:04.234 --> 00:00:12.467 We have come to Damascus, Syria, for a 3 00:00:12.467 --> 00:00:19.000 conversation with the president at a time that he seeks for his 4 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:24.601 country to play a more prominent role in the region. 5 00:00:24.601 --> 00:00:29.167 Bashar al-Assad came to power in Syria in 2000 after the death 6 00:00:29.167 --> 00:00:33.167 of his father. 7 00:00:33.167 --> 00:00:37.100 Today he is putting Syria back on the map after 8 00:00:37.100 --> 00:00:41.133 a period of isolation. 9 00:00:41.133 --> 00:00:45.267 The region's leaders, it is said, are all strung up in 10 00:00:45.267 --> 00:00:49.234 Damascus to talk to him and to do business. 11 00:00:49.234 --> 00:00:52.634 He has strengthened ties with Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and 12 00:00:52.634 --> 00:00:56.000 Lebanon, and also with Russia and Qatar. 13 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:59.400 The United States and Syria are having real 14 00:00:59.400 --> 00:01:02.968 conversations about engagement. 15 00:01:02.968 --> 00:01:06.968 Senator John Kerry the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was 16 00:01:06.968 --> 00:01:11.267 here this weekend for an unofficial visit. 17 00:01:11.267 --> 00:01:15.734 We have come back to Damascus to talk to President al-Assad 18 00:01:15.734 --> 00:01:19.868 about how he sees Syria, its role in the world, its region, 19 00:01:19.868 --> 00:01:24.167 the Middle East peace process, and his relationships with Iran, 20 00:01:24.167 --> 00:01:27.968 Hezbollah, Hamas, and others. 21 00:01:27.968 --> 00:01:31.234 Most importantly, we come to talk about Syria and the United 22 00:01:31.234 --> 00:01:34.200 States and the possibilities for engagement 23 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:37.033 between the two countries. 24 00:01:37.033 --> 00:01:40.300 Mr. President, thank you very much for allowing me to come 25 00:01:40.300 --> 00:01:43.367 here for another conversation with you. 26 00:01:43.367 --> 00:01:45.968 It was in 2006 that I was here, and I'm pleased to be back if 27 00:01:45.968 --> 00:01:48.801 2010 to this great city, Damascus, the oldest 28 00:01:48.801 --> 00:01:51.801 continuously inhabited city in the world. 29 00:01:51.801 --> 00:01:54.801 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Welcome to Syria. 30 00:01:54.801 --> 00:01:57.801 I'm very glad to see you today in Damascus. 31 00:01:57.801 --> 00:02:00.801 I'm not the only American who 32 00:02:00.801 --> 00:02:03.567 has been here recently. 33 00:02:03.567 --> 00:02:06.067 Senator John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations 34 00:02:06.067 --> 00:02:08.767 Committee, was here on Saturday and recently as well. 35 00:02:08.767 --> 00:02:11.534 Is something happening in the relationship between Syria and 36 00:02:11.534 --> 00:02:14.334 the United States? 37 00:02:14.334 --> 00:02:17.234 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Since President Obama came to power, 38 00:02:17.234 --> 00:02:20.133 there is some improvement at least in the atmosphere. 39 00:02:20.133 --> 00:02:23.534 There are a lot of concrete things happening. 40 00:02:23.534 --> 00:02:27.367 It's moving forward slowly. 41 00:02:27.367 --> 00:02:31.234 But the main interest of the administration now and the visit 42 00:02:31.234 --> 00:02:35.000 of Senator Kerry is about how can we 43 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:39.033 re-launch the peace process. 44 00:02:39.033 --> 00:02:42.634 President Obama is interested in the peace process in general, 45 00:02:42.634 --> 00:02:45.868 but the talk with Senator Kerry was about the Syrian track. 46 00:02:45.868 --> 00:02:48.801 And I think the main, the crux of the problem in this region is 47 00:02:48.801 --> 00:02:51.434 the lack of peace. 48 00:02:51.434 --> 00:02:53.934 It is also said that he came here in a sense as 49 00:02:53.934 --> 00:02:57.300 an emissary of the president. 50 00:02:57.300 --> 00:03:01.033 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: That's true. 51 00:03:01.033 --> 00:03:05.000 What is it you want to say to the president of 52 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:08.934 the United States about your view of the region, your own 53 00:03:08.934 --> 00:03:12.901 strategic sense of what's possible? 54 00:03:12.901 --> 00:03:16.901 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: If you're going to talk about the region, 55 00:03:16.901 --> 00:03:20.634 and you know this region is the heart of the world 56 00:03:20.634 --> 00:03:24.167 geographically and politically, you have to talk about the role 57 00:03:24.167 --> 00:03:27.601 of a great power and of the United States. 58 00:03:27.601 --> 00:03:31.000 I think the main issue in this region is the occupation. 59 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:34.701 When you talk about conflict you have to go to the reason. 60 00:03:34.701 --> 00:03:38.501 The reason we have conflict that we have -- occupied land. 61 00:03:38.501 --> 00:03:42.067 At the same time you have Security Council resolutions 62 00:03:42.067 --> 00:03:45.501 that mention very clearly the need of Israel to withdraw from 63 00:03:45.501 --> 00:03:49.100 these lands. 64 00:03:49.100 --> 00:03:52.634 So this is where the peace starts. 65 00:03:52.634 --> 00:03:55.701 I think if I am going to talk to him, I would say to him all 66 00:03:55.701 --> 00:03:58.467 the details in elaboration. 67 00:03:58.467 --> 00:04:01.234 But I would urge him to move faster in order to reach peace 68 00:04:01.234 --> 00:04:04.000 in the region. 69 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:06.734 But you have said in an interview 70 00:04:06.734 --> 00:04:09.501 recently with an 71 00:04:09.501 --> 00:04:12.834 Italian newspaper that you have a strategic vision, but it seems 72 00:04:12.834 --> 00:04:16.067 that America is engaged in a trial and error. 73 00:04:16.067 --> 00:04:19.267 What did you mean? 74 00:04:19.267 --> 00:04:22.400 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: We are wondering about what strategy 75 00:04:22.400 --> 00:04:25.501 the United States has toward the different conflict, whether 76 00:04:25.501 --> 00:04:28.601 Iraq, Afghanistan, peace process, and 77 00:04:28.601 --> 00:04:31.634 any other main conflict. 78 00:04:31.634 --> 00:04:34.701 But I'm talking about different administrations, 79 00:04:34.701 --> 00:04:37.734 not only this administration. 80 00:04:37.734 --> 00:04:40.901 The question that we asked too many officials is, 81 00:04:40.901 --> 00:04:43.934 what is your strategy? 82 00:04:43.934 --> 00:04:47.400 They only put the title of stability, but stability is the 83 00:04:47.400 --> 00:04:51.000 final -- is the goal of all -- the final stage or the final end 84 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:54.467 of solving all the other problems. 85 00:04:54.467 --> 00:04:57.801 So the United States administration has been failing, 86 00:04:57.801 --> 00:05:01.267 failing and failing, in still solving 87 00:05:01.267 --> 00:05:04.334 the problems. Why? 88 00:05:04.334 --> 00:05:07.200 This is related to what I said that the region has changed. 89 00:05:07.200 --> 00:05:10.167 They have to adopt different approach toward our region. 90 00:05:10.167 --> 00:05:12.767 They cannot adopt the same approach. 91 00:05:12.767 --> 00:05:15.133 But with respect to U.S.-Syria, what would you 92 00:05:15.133 --> 00:05:17.567 like to see the United States do? 93 00:05:17.567 --> 00:05:20.400 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: In the peace process? 94 00:05:20.400 --> 00:05:23.234 In the relationship with Syria. 95 00:05:23.234 --> 00:05:26.133 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Of course you cannot separate the two -- the 96 00:05:26.133 --> 00:05:28.801 two things, because if they want to play the role of the 97 00:05:28.801 --> 00:05:31.334 arbiter, they cannot play that role while they are sided with 98 00:05:31.334 --> 00:05:33.701 the Israelis. 99 00:05:33.701 --> 00:05:35.934 They have to be impartial arbiter. 100 00:05:35.934 --> 00:05:38.467 They are not. 101 00:05:38.467 --> 00:05:40.968 And they were never impartial arbiters since the beginning of 102 00:05:40.968 --> 00:05:43.634 the peace process. 103 00:05:43.634 --> 00:05:46.000 They have to gain the trust of the different players. 104 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.467 If you don't have good relations with Syria, how can 105 00:05:48.467 --> 00:05:50.868 Syria depend on you as arbiter? 106 00:05:50.868 --> 00:05:54.300 So you have to improve relations. 107 00:05:54.300 --> 00:05:58.667 So I told the American official that we have to start on 108 00:05:58.667 --> 00:06:02.334 improving the relationship -- 109 00:06:02.334 --> 00:06:05.434 If you talk about putting Syria on the terrorism act, 110 00:06:05.434 --> 00:06:08.167 sorry, terrorism list, you have the Syrian accountability act 111 00:06:08.167 --> 00:06:10.534 in congress 112 00:06:10.534 --> 00:06:13.167 Which they just reconfirmed. 113 00:06:13.167 --> 00:06:16.434 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Yeah exactly. 114 00:06:16.434 --> 00:06:19.934 With some modifcations. 115 00:06:19.934 --> 00:06:23.367 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: There was the veto of Syria 116 00:06:23.367 --> 00:06:27.133 joining the WTO, but it was lifted. 117 00:06:27.133 --> 00:06:30.868 So that's why I say, there are some improvements, but 118 00:06:30.868 --> 00:06:34.434 we have a long way to go in that regard. 119 00:06:34.434 --> 00:06:37.934 So I would like the United States to be fair and to be 120 00:06:37.934 --> 00:06:41.200 unbiased in order to achieve that. 121 00:06:41.200 --> 00:06:44.133 Senator Kerry has said that Syria is a high 122 00:06:44.133 --> 00:06:47.300 priority for this administration. 123 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:50.901 Have they convinced you of that? 124 00:06:50.901 --> 00:06:54.367 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: We are waiting for the results. 125 00:06:54.367 --> 00:06:57.901 Without the results -- I trust Senator Kerry. 126 00:06:57.901 --> 00:07:01.367 I trust Senator Kerry, and I think he is earnest. 127 00:07:01.367 --> 00:07:04.901 And I met him five times before this meeting. 128 00:07:04.901 --> 00:07:08.167 I met him five times in very difficult circumstances. 129 00:07:08.167 --> 00:07:11.567 So what he said, he said what he means. 130 00:07:11.567 --> 00:07:15.400 But at the end he is not the one that going to implement. 131 00:07:15.400 --> 00:07:18.834 You have the administration and you have the Congress. 132 00:07:18.834 --> 00:07:21.634 So in the end we are looking for results. 133 00:07:21.634 --> 00:07:24.400 Today I'm convinced about what he said, but I'm convinced that 134 00:07:24.400 --> 00:07:27.467 President Obama wants to do something 135 00:07:27.467 --> 00:07:30.734 positive in that regard. 136 00:07:30.734 --> 00:07:33.901 But I'm not convinced that the institution would allow 137 00:07:33.901 --> 00:07:37.234 President Obama to do what he wants to do with Syria and in 138 00:07:37.234 --> 00:07:40.033 other subjects and issues. 139 00:07:40.033 --> 00:07:42.534 You seem to be saying that President Obama has 140 00:07:42.534 --> 00:07:44.801 the right ideas but you're not sure that he can act on them. 141 00:07:44.801 --> 00:07:46.801 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: No, because he cannot, because you have 142 00:07:46.801 --> 00:07:49.000 institutions in the United States. 143 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:51.200 You have your political system. 144 00:07:51.200 --> 00:07:53.300 It is not only the president. 145 00:07:53.300 --> 00:07:55.968 If it's only the president, we could blame the president. 146 00:07:55.968 --> 00:07:58.868 We can say that he didn't do what he had to do. 147 00:07:58.868 --> 00:08:01.234 But you have the institutions and you have the Congress. 148 00:08:01.234 --> 00:08:04.400 For example, the ambassador to Syria who was about to come, but 149 00:08:04.400 --> 00:08:07.400 the Congress, the Republicans in the 150 00:08:07.400 --> 00:08:10.300 Congress opposed it recently. 151 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:12.667 So that is why I said it's not that the president doesn't want 152 00:08:12.667 --> 00:08:14.968 to or he cannot do something. 153 00:08:14.968 --> 00:08:17.467 It is about the whole political system that you have in the 154 00:08:17.467 --> 00:08:20.067 United States. 155 00:08:20.067 --> 00:08:22.200 And you know more than me about it. 156 00:08:22.200 --> 00:08:24.100 But you consider it an ago of respect for Syria 157 00:08:24.100 --> 00:08:26.167 that they confirm a Syrian ambassador 158 00:08:26.167 --> 00:08:27.901 from the United States? 159 00:08:27.901 --> 00:08:29.634 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Yes. 160 00:08:29.634 --> 00:08:31.434 But in the end the ambassador is to help your country, not to 161 00:08:31.434 --> 00:08:33.400 help my country. 162 00:08:33.400 --> 00:08:35.434 I have my ambassador to do that. 163 00:08:35.434 --> 00:08:37.601 So that is not a help to Syria. 164 00:08:37.601 --> 00:08:40.067 They have help to the United States that that he they have 165 00:08:40.067 --> 00:08:42.567 ambassadors anywhere in the world. 166 00:08:42.567 --> 00:08:44.901 I'm not saying that this is something to deliver to Syria, 167 00:08:44.901 --> 00:08:46.901 but I'm just giving an example about the steps you want to take 168 00:08:46.901 --> 00:08:49.834 to improve the relations, but somebody opposed it because of 169 00:08:49.834 --> 00:08:53.133 the political system that you have. 170 00:08:53.133 --> 00:08:56.133 That is what I mean. 171 00:08:56.133 --> 00:08:59.167 How do you see Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, the 172 00:08:59.167 --> 00:09:01.834 northern tier in the region? 173 00:09:01.834 --> 00:09:04.734 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Normally you should have good relations with 174 00:09:04.734 --> 00:09:07.434 your neighbors, something we've learned from our experience 175 00:09:07.434 --> 00:09:09.968 during the last decades. 176 00:09:09.968 --> 00:09:12.133 We've been in conflict, Syria and Iraq, Syria and Turkey, Iraq 177 00:09:12.133 --> 00:09:14.200 and Turkey, and other countries. 178 00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:18.067 What did we get? Nothing. 179 00:09:18.067 --> 00:09:20.133 We've been losing for decades. 180 00:09:20.133 --> 00:09:22.667 We've learned during the last decade that we have 181 00:09:22.667 --> 00:09:25.167 to turn the tide. 182 00:09:25.167 --> 00:09:27.434 So everybody is going forward with good relation with the 183 00:09:27.434 --> 00:09:30.133 other even if it doesn't have the same vision or even if they 184 00:09:30.133 --> 00:09:32.534 disagree about most of the things, not 185 00:09:32.534 --> 00:09:34.834 part, not some things. 186 00:09:34.834 --> 00:09:37.467 So this relation, Syria and Iraq, we are neighbors. 187 00:09:37.467 --> 00:09:40.100 Syria and Turkey we are neighbors. 188 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:43.100 We affect each other directly. 189 00:09:43.100 --> 00:09:46.234 Iran is not my neighbor, bu Iran is one of the big countries 190 00:09:46.234 --> 00:09:49.067 in the Middle East and an important country and it plays 191 00:09:49.067 --> 00:09:52.000 a role and affects different issues in the region. 192 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:54.968 So if you want to play your role and help yourself and save 193 00:09:54.968 --> 00:09:59.200 your interest, you should have good relation with all these 194 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:03.834 influential countries. 195 00:10:03.834 --> 00:10:08.133 That's why this relation I think is very normal. 196 00:10:08.133 --> 00:10:12.534 There are those in America would like to believe 197 00:10:12.534 --> 00:10:16.634 America can do something that will put some distance between 198 00:10:16.634 --> 00:10:20.434 you and Iran, that they can make you less close. 199 00:10:20.434 --> 00:10:24.033 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: They contradict themselves. 200 00:10:24.033 --> 00:10:27.467 They talk about stability in the region. 201 00:10:27.467 --> 00:10:30.801 Stability starts with good relations. 202 00:10:30.801 --> 00:10:34.067 You can't have stability and bad relations. 203 00:10:34.067 --> 00:10:37.267 The argument, why do they need Syria to be away from Iran? 204 00:10:37.267 --> 00:10:40.400 They have conflict with Iran. 205 00:10:40.400 --> 00:10:43.501 What does it mean to put Syria away from Iran? 206 00:10:43.501 --> 00:10:46.834 Sometimes they talk about the relation between Syria and 207 00:10:46.834 --> 00:10:50.100 Iranian relations, and the peace. 208 00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:53.367 That's not true. 209 00:10:53.367 --> 00:10:56.100 It is not realistic, because Iran supported our efforts to 210 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:59.334 achieve, to give back our land through the peace negotiations 211 00:10:59.334 --> 00:11:03.100 in 2008 when we had negotiations in Turkey. 212 00:11:03.100 --> 00:11:06.734 Let me underline that. 213 00:11:06.734 --> 00:11:09.801 You believe that Iran, even though it says it does not 214 00:11:09.801 --> 00:11:12.400 recognize Israel's right to exist, when you through Turkey 215 00:11:12.400 --> 00:11:14.734 were trying to negotiate with the Israelis, the Iranians were 216 00:11:14.734 --> 00:11:16.701 supportive of that. 217 00:11:16.701 --> 00:11:18.501 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Exactly. 218 00:11:18.501 --> 00:11:20.534 And so you are saying actions speak 219 00:11:20.534 --> 00:11:22.400 louder than words. 220 00:11:22.400 --> 00:11:24.834 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Exactly. 221 00:11:24.834 --> 00:11:27.267 And actually they said it inward, they said publicly that 222 00:11:27.267 --> 00:11:29.367 we support you. 223 00:11:29.367 --> 00:11:31.734 They said it twice during the negotiations and formally. 224 00:11:31.734 --> 00:11:34.000 So you cannot see with one eye. 225 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:36.200 Yes. 226 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:38.133 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: So that is what is happening. 227 00:11:38.133 --> 00:11:40.400 They see only what they want to. 228 00:11:40.400 --> 00:11:43.000 They hear what they want to hear and they ignore the other stand 229 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:45.434 from the same government. 230 00:11:45.434 --> 00:11:47.801 Do you think America misunderstands Iran? 231 00:11:47.801 --> 00:11:50.033 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: They misunderstand 232 00:11:50.033 --> 00:11:52.234 the region, definitely. 233 00:11:52.234 --> 00:11:54.367 And that sometimes is normal because it is different culture 234 00:11:54.367 --> 00:11:56.501 very far away. 235 00:11:56.501 --> 00:11:58.567 But after the 11th of September, at least after the 236 00:11:58.567 --> 00:12:00.634 11th of September, you should learn more about what is 237 00:12:00.634 --> 00:12:02.667 happening behind the ocean. 238 00:12:02.667 --> 00:12:04.701 It is not about what you think. 239 00:12:04.701 --> 00:12:06.534 It is about what we think. 240 00:12:06.534 --> 00:12:08.868 They have to understand th society, the culture in this 241 00:12:08.868 --> 00:12:11.100 region, and in the rest of the world that this region, because 242 00:12:11.100 --> 00:12:13.234 it is complicated. 243 00:12:13.234 --> 00:12:15.534 What is this they don't understand, those in 244 00:12:15.534 --> 00:12:18.367 Washington about the region, about the culture, about Syria's 245 00:12:18.367 --> 00:12:21.467 role, about Iran? 246 00:12:21.467 --> 00:12:24.834 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: They don't understand that we want peace. 247 00:12:24.834 --> 00:12:28.567 But if you want peace, it doesn't mean -- to sign's peace 248 00:12:28.567 --> 00:12:32.367 treaty, it doesn't mean we sign capitulation agreement. 249 00:12:32.367 --> 00:12:36.000 That's what they don't understand. 250 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:39.667 There is a big different between capitulation agreement 251 00:12:39.667 --> 00:12:43.467 and peace treaty. 252 00:12:43.467 --> 00:12:47.300 Peace treaty means having all your rights. 253 00:12:47.300 --> 00:12:51.167 This is the second about Iran, the nuclear issue. 254 00:12:51.167 --> 00:12:55.100 The nuclear fight is about Iran having the right to have 255 00:12:55.100 --> 00:12:59.033 peaceful nuclear reactor. 256 00:12:59.033 --> 00:13:02.968 You cannot deal with Iran through the Security Council 257 00:13:02.968 --> 00:13:06.701 through threats. 258 00:13:06.701 --> 00:13:10.234 There is evidence that they didn't understand this recent 259 00:13:10.234 --> 00:13:13.634 agreement between Turkey, Brazil, and Iran. 260 00:13:13.634 --> 00:13:17.067 And I told the official that I met recently from Europe after 261 00:13:17.067 --> 00:13:20.701 that agreement that this agreement is the proof that the 262 00:13:20.701 --> 00:13:24.400 west didn't understand this region, because Turkey and 263 00:13:24.400 --> 00:13:28.200 Brazil succeeded in getting what the world has been asking 264 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:31.501 for during the last year in a few weeks, because they 265 00:13:31.501 --> 00:13:35.067 understand this region and they adopted different approach, 266 00:13:35.067 --> 00:13:39.200 which is dialogue, not threat, not imposing. 267 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:43.534 Their interpretation of what happened 268 00:13:43.534 --> 00:13:47.234 between Iran and Turkey and Iran and Brazil is that it's 269 00:13:47.234 --> 00:13:50.267 just another effort by Iran to delay sanctions so that they can 270 00:13:50.267 --> 00:13:52.834 get on with building a nuclear capacity. 271 00:13:52.834 --> 00:13:54.934 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: You mean about the 1,200 kilogram. 272 00:13:54.934 --> 00:13:57.033 Yes. 273 00:13:57.033 --> 00:13:59.133 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Or about the agreement. 274 00:13:59.133 --> 00:14:01.200 The agreement was intended to 275 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:03.300 delay sanctions and 276 00:14:03.300 --> 00:14:06.200 nothing more. 277 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:09.100 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Iran didn't talk about sending or making an 278 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:12.033 agreement, sending uranium abroad. 279 00:14:12.033 --> 00:14:14.734 The five countries plus one asked for this and that's what 280 00:14:14.734 --> 00:14:17.267 Iran did. 281 00:14:17.267 --> 00:14:19.634 So they talked about it. 282 00:14:19.634 --> 00:14:21.801 You can keep saying that whatever we do, whatever Iran 283 00:14:21.801 --> 00:14:23.601 does, you have suspicion about Iran. 284 00:14:23.601 --> 00:14:25.234 But the international relation is about -- 285 00:14:25.234 --> 00:14:27.400 is not about trusting. 286 00:14:27.400 --> 00:14:30.000 It's about mechanism. 287 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:32.701 You have mechanism. 288 00:14:32.701 --> 00:14:35.234 And this mechanism is in the agency, IAEA agency. 289 00:14:35.234 --> 00:14:37.601 And you have the NP-3 treaty, nonproliferation treaty. 290 00:14:37.601 --> 00:14:39.701 That's what you can depend, not the trust. 291 00:14:39.701 --> 00:14:41.901 You don't have to trust. 292 00:14:41.901 --> 00:14:44.167 Trust is something personal. 293 00:14:44.167 --> 00:14:46.133 But if you talk about the relation, international 294 00:14:46.133 --> 00:14:49.300 relation, it's about mechanism, and you have the mechanism. 295 00:14:49.300 --> 00:14:52.467 So whether it is trust Iran or doesn't trust 296 00:14:52.467 --> 00:14:54.901 it is not the issue. 297 00:14:54.901 --> 00:14:57.334 But it is the issue that if Iran had nuclear 298 00:14:57.334 --> 00:14:59.767 ability for a nuclear weapon, it would destabilize the region. 299 00:14:59.767 --> 00:15:02.200 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: That's why you need the 300 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:04.634 mechanism of the IAEA. 301 00:15:04.634 --> 00:15:07.901 That their role is to make sure that this is for civil, not 302 00:15:07.901 --> 00:15:11.167 military program. 303 00:15:11.167 --> 00:15:13.901 But they say the Iranians have mislead them. 304 00:15:13.901 --> 00:15:16.601 The IAEA says Iran has misled us and did not give us the 305 00:15:16.601 --> 00:15:19.300 information we needed. 306 00:15:19.300 --> 00:15:22.000 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: That happened when they moved the five from 307 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:24.701 the IAEA to the Security Council. 308 00:15:24.701 --> 00:15:28.234 But before that, at the very beginning of the issue, 309 00:15:28.234 --> 00:15:31.767 remember, there was cameras by the IAEA was set up inside the 310 00:15:31.767 --> 00:15:34.634 nuclear reactors. 311 00:15:34.634 --> 00:15:37.934 So when the problem started, particularly because of Bush's 312 00:15:37.934 --> 00:15:41.167 intention, bad intention toward Iran, this is where 313 00:15:41.167 --> 00:15:44.467 the problem started. 314 00:15:44.467 --> 00:15:47.167 Now I think they have to do two things. 315 00:15:47.167 --> 00:15:49.534 Take it away from the Security Council, because if you take 316 00:15:49.534 --> 00:15:51.868 any action against Iran, there will be no solution, I think it 317 00:15:51.868 --> 00:15:54.601 going to be -- 318 00:15:54.601 --> 00:15:57.400 On other words, if the Security Council imposes 319 00:15:57.400 --> 00:16:00.267 sanctions, you think what? 320 00:16:00.267 --> 00:16:02.901 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Iran said publicly a few days ago that if 321 00:16:02.901 --> 00:16:05.400 they don't accept this agreement, and they go to the 322 00:16:05.400 --> 00:16:07.734 Security Council, they will withdraw from the agreement. 323 00:16:07.734 --> 00:16:10.167 And if they withdraw from the agreement, thus means the 324 00:16:10.167 --> 00:16:12.601 problem will be more complicated, and that means 325 00:16:12.601 --> 00:16:14.467 there will be no solution. 326 00:16:14.467 --> 00:16:16.167 So therefore we should be supportive, not engage 327 00:16:16.167 --> 00:16:18.100 in sanctions from the U.N. Security Council -- 328 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:19.801 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Of course. 329 00:16:19.801 --> 00:16:21.767 -- and be supportive of the agreement 330 00:16:21.767 --> 00:16:23.767 between Iran and Brazil and Iran and Turkey? 331 00:16:23.767 --> 00:16:25.501 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Exactly. 332 00:16:25.501 --> 00:16:27.000 That is what I mean by going back to the agency. 333 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:28.334 Do you believe Iran wants nuclear weapons? 334 00:16:28.334 --> 00:16:29.601 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: No. 335 00:16:29.601 --> 00:16:30.767 You don't? 336 00:16:30.767 --> 00:16:31.868 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: No. 337 00:16:31.868 --> 00:16:33.000 Why not? 338 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.200 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Because what would they do when you have 339 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:35.400 nuclear bomb? 340 00:16:35.400 --> 00:16:36.701 What can you do? 341 00:16:36.701 --> 00:16:38.033 You cannot deter terror. 342 00:16:38.033 --> 00:16:39.767 Is that what they said to you? 343 00:16:39.767 --> 00:16:41.801 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Yes, definitely. 344 00:16:41.801 --> 00:16:43.534 President Ahmadinejad says to you, the 345 00:16:43.534 --> 00:16:45.133 president of Syria, I do not want nuclear weapons. 346 00:16:45.133 --> 00:16:46.534 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Every official in Iran says that. 347 00:16:46.534 --> 00:16:47.868 And you believe them? 348 00:16:47.868 --> 00:16:49.267 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Of course I believe, because 349 00:16:49.267 --> 00:16:51.567 what to do with it? 350 00:16:51.567 --> 00:16:54.234 There's nothing. 351 00:16:54.234 --> 00:16:56.968 I mean what is the aim to have it? 352 00:16:56.968 --> 00:16:59.267 Then why are they engaged in sort of in the 353 00:16:59.267 --> 00:17:01.234 appearance of some, the IAEA, deception, and they discover 354 00:17:01.234 --> 00:17:03.000 these centrifuges inside mountains that they 355 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:05.734 didn't know about? 356 00:17:05.734 --> 00:17:08.501 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: It is not deception. 357 00:17:08.501 --> 00:17:11.334 That is how you define it in the west. 358 00:17:11.334 --> 00:17:14.200 Actually, the five plus one countries weren't -- they didn't 359 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:17.100 come -- they didn't come to Iran with good intentions. 360 00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:19.801 They started with saying yo have to stop your program. 361 00:17:19.801 --> 00:17:22.300 I have the right to have civil program. 362 00:17:22.300 --> 00:17:24.667 Why to stop it? 363 00:17:24.667 --> 00:17:26.968 Syria is suspicious. 364 00:17:26.968 --> 00:17:29.200 But it doesn't matter if your suspicious or not. 365 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:31.334 What are the mechanisms? 366 00:17:31.334 --> 00:17:33.767 You should adopt the IAEA. 367 00:17:33.767 --> 00:17:36.267 This is when you started the problem, the problem started. 368 00:17:36.267 --> 00:17:38.667 Not because Iran started to deceive. 369 00:17:38.667 --> 00:17:41.367 If they wanted to deceive they wouldn't have allowed them to 370 00:17:41.367 --> 00:17:43.901 have cameras inside the reactors. 371 00:17:43.901 --> 00:17:46.067 But you do believe that if Iran had a 372 00:17:46.067 --> 00:17:49.033 nuclear weapon, it would destabilize the region? 373 00:17:49.033 --> 00:17:52.467 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: We are against any nuclear 374 00:17:52.467 --> 00:17:56.234 weapons in the region. 375 00:17:56.234 --> 00:17:59.534 We have a Syrian draft in the Security Council since 2003, 376 00:17:59.534 --> 00:18:02.767 about WMDs, of course including Israel, but we do not talk about 377 00:18:02.767 --> 00:18:05.701 Iran destabilizing the region if they have -- if you presume 378 00:18:05.701 --> 00:18:08.634 that they are going to have nuclear bombs, something I 379 00:18:08.634 --> 00:18:11.400 don't believe in, while ignoring Israel. 380 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:13.767 Israel started this problem. 381 00:18:13.767 --> 00:18:16.267 Israel is the only country with nuclear bombs in the region, 382 00:18:16.267 --> 00:18:18.400 not Iran. 383 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:20.567 If Israel has nuclear weapons everybody else 384 00:18:20.567 --> 00:18:22.834 has not rushed un to have nuclear weapons in the region. 385 00:18:22.834 --> 00:18:25.400 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: I don't know. 386 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:28.033 But when you have action, you have reaction. 387 00:18:28.033 --> 00:18:31.334 But in Syria we don't believe they should have nuclear weapons 388 00:18:31.334 --> 00:18:35.200 in order to deter Israel because I don't think it is easy for 389 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:39.434 anyone to say that I'm going to use nuclear weapons. 390 00:18:39.434 --> 00:18:43.033 If the United States says to you we do not 391 00:18:43.033 --> 00:18:46.000 approve of your support of Hamas and especially Hezbollah, 392 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:49.133 and we want you to reduce that level of support, 393 00:18:49.133 --> 00:18:52.267 what do you say? 394 00:18:52.267 --> 00:18:55.434 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: What the reason? 395 00:18:55.434 --> 00:18:58.767 What the argument? 396 00:18:58.767 --> 00:19:01.934 They only want -- doesn't matter if they want. 397 00:19:01.934 --> 00:19:04.801 What is the reason? 398 00:19:04.801 --> 00:19:07.434 How can they convince me convince me that I should agree 399 00:19:07.434 --> 00:19:09.901 with the support? 400 00:19:09.901 --> 00:19:12.033 The support is political because Hamas, the Palestinian 401 00:19:12.033 --> 00:19:14.868 Organization, the Palestinians have occupied land. 402 00:19:14.868 --> 00:19:17.767 They have the right to have their own state. 403 00:19:17.767 --> 00:19:20.667 They don't have. 404 00:19:20.667 --> 00:19:23.601 They have the right to have their own land back after '67, 405 00:19:23.601 --> 00:19:26.567 something they haven't had yet. 406 00:19:26.567 --> 00:19:29.601 The same for Hezbollah. 407 00:19:29.601 --> 00:19:33.300 The Israelis are violating the airspace of Syria on a daily 408 00:19:33.300 --> 00:19:37.067 basis every few hours, every few hours. 409 00:19:37.067 --> 00:19:40.901 So they have the right to defend their country. 410 00:19:40.901 --> 00:19:44.801 My answer, because they asked me that question many times, 411 00:19:44.801 --> 00:19:48.701 many times, that instead of adopting this cherry picking 412 00:19:48.701 --> 00:19:52.501 approach once you talk about Hamas, once you talk about 413 00:19:52.501 --> 00:19:55.868 Hezbollah, why do you have the elephant in the room? 414 00:19:55.868 --> 00:19:59.033 So let's talk about the peace. 415 00:19:59.033 --> 00:20:01.901 This elephant is the occupation and the Israeli aggression. 416 00:20:01.901 --> 00:20:04.534 When you don't have Israeli aggression, when you don't have 417 00:20:04.534 --> 00:20:07.200 occupation, forget about all these problems. 418 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:09.934 It will be solved ultimately. 419 00:20:09.934 --> 00:20:12.734 But are you saying that if, in fact there 420 00:20:12.734 --> 00:20:15.067 was an agreement between the Palestinians, if they were 421 00:20:15.067 --> 00:20:17.634 unified and they were in agreement, that you would be 422 00:20:17.634 --> 00:20:20.334 less supportive of Hezbollah and Hamas? 423 00:20:20.334 --> 00:20:23.100 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: We support cause. 424 00:20:23.100 --> 00:20:25.934 What the cause, the cause that they have occupied land. 425 00:20:25.934 --> 00:20:28.534 If they don't have occupied land, what is the support? 426 00:20:28.534 --> 00:20:31.000 I don't have anything to support. 427 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:33.367 They have their own right. 428 00:20:33.367 --> 00:20:35.634 I support somebody who has the right -- I mean he has a right, 429 00:20:35.634 --> 00:20:37.834 but they don't give it back to him. 430 00:20:37.834 --> 00:20:39.968 So that is what we support. 431 00:20:39.968 --> 00:20:42.100 We support their cause. 432 00:20:42.100 --> 00:20:44.167 When they have the state, maybe they have another cause that I 433 00:20:44.167 --> 00:20:46.100 will talk about something different. 434 00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:48.767 But today we support their right to have their own 435 00:20:48.767 --> 00:20:51.267 independent state. 436 00:20:51.267 --> 00:20:53.801 But you were saying you support Hezbollah and 437 00:20:53.801 --> 00:20:56.501 Hamas at the level you do because there is no 438 00:20:56.501 --> 00:20:58.934 Israeli-Palestinian agreement? 439 00:20:58.934 --> 00:21:01.334 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Israel should stop violating, stop launching 440 00:21:01.334 --> 00:21:03.667 aggression from time to time against 441 00:21:03.667 --> 00:21:07.167 Lebanon or against Syria. 442 00:21:07.167 --> 00:21:10.234 That is what we support. 443 00:21:10.234 --> 00:21:13.334 The United States, it is said that Senator 444 00:21:13.334 --> 00:21:16.033 Kerry believes that you and Syria has supplied Scud missiles 445 00:21:16.033 --> 00:21:18.534 to Hezbollah. 446 00:21:18.534 --> 00:21:20.701 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: This is very good story anecdotal story by 447 00:21:20.701 --> 00:21:22.601 the Israelis. 448 00:21:22.601 --> 00:21:24.367 They are very good at making up -- 449 00:21:24.367 --> 00:21:26.334 So the story came from the Israelis? 450 00:21:26.334 --> 00:21:28.601 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: The Israelis. 451 00:21:28.601 --> 00:21:31.067 And is it true? 452 00:21:31.067 --> 00:21:33.634 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: We told them what evidence do you have? 453 00:21:33.634 --> 00:21:36.567 If you want to say that you have smuggled -- they have been 454 00:21:36.567 --> 00:21:39.534 repeating this story from time to time, for 455 00:21:39.534 --> 00:21:42.501 years, not for months. 456 00:21:42.501 --> 00:21:45.467 And every time that you are scanning the borders between 457 00:21:45.467 --> 00:21:48.400 Syria and Lebanon every hour for 24 hours and you cannot 458 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:51.601 catch any big missiles, Scud or any other 459 00:21:51.601 --> 00:21:54.834 one, it is not realistic. 460 00:21:54.834 --> 00:21:58.067 This is Israeli allegations. 461 00:21:58.067 --> 00:22:01.300 These are pretensions and vicious statements. 462 00:22:01.300 --> 00:22:04.567 But my impression is that 463 00:22:04.567 --> 00:22:07.801 Senator Kerry came here 464 00:22:07.801 --> 00:22:11.767 on Saturday to say the United States believes this to be true. 465 00:22:11.767 --> 00:22:15.267 And the United States believes according to its own 466 00:22:15.267 --> 00:22:18.801 intelligence sources that weapons have gone, new Scud 467 00:22:18.801 --> 00:22:22.200 missiles from gone to Hezbollah from you. 468 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:25.501 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: We can only talk about this, discuss it with 469 00:22:25.501 --> 00:22:28.734 them when they came to us with the evidence. 470 00:22:28.734 --> 00:22:31.901 Your debate on rumors, give us the time. 471 00:22:31.901 --> 00:22:35.033 Do you have evidence, or you only heard? 472 00:22:35.033 --> 00:22:38.133 If you only heard, you don't have to waste our time. 473 00:22:38.133 --> 00:22:40.934 You have evidence, you said your intelligence, the Israeli 474 00:22:40.934 --> 00:22:43.567 intelligence, bring the evidence, bring me the pictures, 475 00:22:43.567 --> 00:22:46.000 bring me all the information to discuss. 476 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:48.367 When you tell me you believe, this your 477 00:22:48.367 --> 00:22:50.367 problem if you believe. 478 00:22:50.367 --> 00:22:52.033 I don't have to waste my time with what you believe or not. 479 00:22:52.033 --> 00:22:53.634 We know the reality. 480 00:22:53.634 --> 00:22:55.801 Hezbollah is a strong organization. 481 00:22:55.801 --> 00:22:58.167 It's not weak at all. 482 00:22:58.167 --> 00:23:00.200 They have is millions, everybody knows. 483 00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:02.100 In fact they have said they have missiles, they 484 00:23:02.100 --> 00:23:04.400 have better and more advanced missiles than 485 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:06.901 they've had before. 486 00:23:06.901 --> 00:23:09.534 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: How did they know? 487 00:23:09.534 --> 00:23:12.267 When Israel attacked Lebanon in 2006, they didn't care about 488 00:23:12.267 --> 00:23:15.033 the bunkers that they have in the south just a few 489 00:23:15.033 --> 00:23:17.634 millimeters away from the Israeli forces. 490 00:23:17.634 --> 00:23:20.067 How could they know about th advancement that they have? 491 00:23:20.067 --> 00:23:22.667 These are rumors. 492 00:23:22.667 --> 00:23:24.868 They are afraid and worried about what Hezbollah is doing. 493 00:23:24.868 --> 00:23:26.834 Hezbollah, like any other organization, it's a war. 494 00:23:26.834 --> 00:23:29.200 When you have a war, everybody will make his position better 495 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:31.767 and stronger. 496 00:23:31.767 --> 00:23:34.400 That's normal. 497 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:37.167 But as a politician we don't waste our time with condemning 498 00:23:37.167 --> 00:23:39.968 or blaming Hezbollah having this or having that. 499 00:23:39.968 --> 00:23:42.834 This is reality. 500 00:23:42.834 --> 00:23:45.734 You have this reality, you have to deal with it. 501 00:23:45.734 --> 00:23:48.634 You have to deal with it. 502 00:23:48.634 --> 00:23:51.334 Go towards the peace. 503 00:23:51.334 --> 00:23:53.834 Not waste time talking about what kind of -- this is just a 504 00:23:53.834 --> 00:23:56.234 waste of time. 505 00:23:56.234 --> 00:23:58.534 Solve the problem through the peace process. 506 00:23:58.534 --> 00:24:00.601 That is why we are talking about peace and we are working 507 00:24:00.601 --> 00:24:02.667 for peace in order for all these problems. 508 00:24:02.667 --> 00:24:04.901 And Israel should know only peace can protect Israel, not 509 00:24:04.901 --> 00:24:07.334 creating this propaganda and making up false stories or an 510 00:24:07.334 --> 00:24:10.267 elusive story. 511 00:24:10.267 --> 00:24:13.033 If Senator Kerry suggested that he believes and 512 00:24:13.033 --> 00:24:15.367 the United States believes that you were supplying weapons to 513 00:24:15.367 --> 00:24:17.767 Hezbollah, new Scud missiles, you are saying absolutely not, 514 00:24:17.767 --> 00:24:19.767 we are not doing that. 515 00:24:19.767 --> 00:24:21.734 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: I said no. 516 00:24:21.734 --> 00:24:23.834 But at the same time, I told him we don't waste 517 00:24:23.834 --> 00:24:25.734 our time with this. 518 00:24:25.734 --> 00:24:27.734 When you have evidence come to me. 519 00:24:27.734 --> 00:24:29.968 If they have evidence, we can discuss. 520 00:24:29.968 --> 00:24:31.968 But we don't discuss it. 521 00:24:31.968 --> 00:24:33.968 Do you think it would be the wrong thing to do, 522 00:24:33.968 --> 00:24:35.834 that it would be destabilizing to do that, 523 00:24:35.834 --> 00:24:37.868 supply weapons to Hezbollah. 524 00:24:37.868 --> 00:24:40.200 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: I think what is destabilizing is the Israeli 525 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:42.167 aggression on our region. 526 00:24:42.167 --> 00:24:46.234 They attacked Syria, they attacked Lebanon, they have 527 00:24:46.234 --> 00:24:50.067 been attack Israeli -- sorry, the 528 00:24:50.067 --> 00:24:53.634 Palestinians on a daily basis. 529 00:24:53.634 --> 00:24:57.100 That is what destabilized the region, not Hezbollah and any 530 00:24:57.100 --> 00:25:00.400 other organization that defend themselves. 531 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:03.667 If the United States comes to you and says you 532 00:25:03.667 --> 00:25:07.100 want to do things in the region. 533 00:25:07.100 --> 00:25:10.167 We want to be a positive force. 534 00:25:10.167 --> 00:25:12.968 And we are prepared to do this we are prepared to encourage 535 00:25:12.968 --> 00:25:15.567 Israel to do this. 536 00:25:15.567 --> 00:25:17.868 And we ask you to stop being so supportive of Hezbollah and 537 00:25:17.868 --> 00:25:20.100 Hamas because we believe that they are engaged in sort of in 538 00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:22.467 certain terrorist activities. 539 00:25:22.467 --> 00:25:25.200 We ask you to stop supporting them. 540 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:28.000 You are saying that's to the going to happen? 541 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:30.834 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: It's like if you talk about a chapter in a 542 00:25:30.834 --> 00:25:33.734 book, every time you read that chapter, you have to read the 543 00:25:33.734 --> 00:25:36.667 whole book to understand this chapter. 544 00:25:36.667 --> 00:25:39.601 So the meantime, I would say of course, we will be ready to -- 545 00:25:39.601 --> 00:25:42.534 we would like to see this region free of armaments, free 546 00:25:42.534 --> 00:25:45.501 of conflict, free of everything. 547 00:25:45.501 --> 00:25:48.234 But that will not happen only through talking about one factor 548 00:25:48.234 --> 00:25:50.767 while you have the main important factor which is the 549 00:25:50.767 --> 00:25:53.200 occupation is in place. 550 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:55.501 So we have to solve it as a package. 551 00:25:55.501 --> 00:25:57.501 And this package should be piece. 552 00:25:57.501 --> 00:25:59.701 There is no other way. 553 00:25:59.701 --> 00:26:02.200 It's just a waste of time. 554 00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:05.234 So we have to go in this way, through the peace. 555 00:26:05.234 --> 00:26:09.200 There is this whole sense of Syria and its 556 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:12.734 identification and its relationship to the 557 00:26:12.734 --> 00:26:16.167 aforementioned Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, that it is -- it's part 558 00:26:16.167 --> 00:26:19.467 of this resistance that gives Syria power and legitimacy. 559 00:26:19.467 --> 00:26:22.701 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: You can have this legitimacy as you adhere to 560 00:26:22.701 --> 00:26:25.868 your rights. 561 00:26:25.868 --> 00:26:28.767 That is legitimacy. 562 00:26:28.767 --> 00:26:31.200 That is the political legitimacy that you can have. 563 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:33.400 While supporting the resistance -- they have the public support 564 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:35.501 anyway, whether they support it as a government or not, they 565 00:26:35.501 --> 00:26:38.100 have the support of the public in this region. 566 00:26:38.100 --> 00:26:41.968 That is why they are strong. 567 00:26:41.968 --> 00:26:45.334 Not by the government. 568 00:26:45.334 --> 00:26:48.133 Some find it interesting that your allies are 569 00:26:48.133 --> 00:26:50.534 Islamist, in one case a theocracy, and yet Syria is a 570 00:26:50.534 --> 00:26:53.267 secular state. 571 00:26:53.267 --> 00:26:56.033 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: That's true. 572 00:26:56.033 --> 00:26:58.868 And that's why they don't understand. 573 00:26:58.868 --> 00:27:01.767 This is one of the things that they don't understand in the 574 00:27:01.767 --> 00:27:04.667 west, especially in the United States, because if I support you 575 00:27:04.667 --> 00:27:07.601 doesn't mean I'm like you or I agree with you. 576 00:27:07.601 --> 00:27:10.534 That means I believe in your cause. 577 00:27:10.534 --> 00:27:13.267 There is a difference. 578 00:27:13.267 --> 00:27:15.801 Maybe if we don't have this cause, maybe we have different 579 00:27:15.801 --> 00:27:18.200 debate with them or different relation, while now they have a 580 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:20.267 cause and we support the cause. 581 00:27:20.267 --> 00:27:22.601 We don't support organizations. 582 00:27:22.601 --> 00:27:24.901 We support the Palestinian cause, and Hamas is working for 583 00:27:24.901 --> 00:27:27.133 that cause, and the same for Hezbollah. 584 00:27:27.133 --> 00:27:29.634 Hezbollah is working for the Lebanese cause. 585 00:27:29.634 --> 00:27:32.467 So we support that cause, not Hezbollah. 586 00:27:32.467 --> 00:27:35.868 But Hezbollah is one of the means. 587 00:27:35.868 --> 00:27:38.767 So that's what they have to understand in the west. 588 00:27:38.767 --> 00:27:41.934 Speaking of Lebanon and Hezbollah, the 589 00:27:41.934 --> 00:27:45.300 withdraw of Syrian troops from Lebanon, tell me how you felt 590 00:27:45.300 --> 00:27:48.567 about that. 591 00:27:48.567 --> 00:27:51.767 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: At that time, of course it wasn't, let's say, 592 00:27:51.767 --> 00:27:55.234 positive feeling, I will put it in that word, because of the 593 00:27:55.234 --> 00:27:59.033 reaction in Lebanon. 594 00:27:59.033 --> 00:28:03.100 Today the atmosphere is different. 595 00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:06.400 We were very cooperative with the different delegation that 596 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:09.501 came for the investigation of the Hariri assassination, and 597 00:28:09.501 --> 00:28:12.334 was proven today it was nothing to do with Syria. 598 00:28:12.334 --> 00:28:15.567 And that changed -- 599 00:28:15.567 --> 00:28:18.968 The investigation not over, or has not been -- 600 00:28:18.968 --> 00:28:22.434 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: No, but we are -- from the very beginning we 601 00:28:22.434 --> 00:28:25.834 were very sure about it. 602 00:28:25.834 --> 00:28:29.334 But now the Lebanese people know this that Syria had nothing to 603 00:28:29.334 --> 00:28:32.767 do with this assassination. 604 00:28:32.767 --> 00:28:36.100 That means Syria, Syria's influence in Lebanon has always 605 00:28:36.100 --> 00:28:39.367 been strong because of the geopolitical position, not 606 00:28:39.367 --> 00:28:42.567 because of the army. 607 00:28:42.567 --> 00:28:45.868 The army in Lebanon didn't do anything, wasn't 608 00:28:45.868 --> 00:28:48.801 involved in politics. 609 00:28:48.801 --> 00:28:52.300 Few politicians, few officers in Syria need to be involved. 610 00:28:52.300 --> 00:28:55.300 So the Syria influence and the Syrian clout is still as strong 611 00:28:55.300 --> 00:28:58.167 as it was, so we don't have problem. 612 00:28:58.167 --> 00:29:00.767 We don't look at it as undermined Syria. 613 00:29:00.767 --> 00:29:03.200 So you do not feel like you need to 614 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:05.634 reintroduce Syrian troops to Lebanon? 615 00:29:05.634 --> 00:29:07.801 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Actually we had been with the drawing out 616 00:29:07.801 --> 00:29:09.968 troops since before the conflict. 617 00:29:09.968 --> 00:29:12.167 So you want no Syrian troops in Lebanon? 618 00:29:12.167 --> 00:29:14.334 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: We withdrew 63 percent of our 619 00:29:14.334 --> 00:29:16.501 troops before the 620 00:29:16.501 --> 00:29:19.167 conflict stopped in Lebanon. 621 00:29:19.167 --> 00:29:21.634 That was our intention. 622 00:29:21.634 --> 00:29:23.834 Mr. Hariri, the prime minister, had been here a 623 00:29:23.834 --> 00:29:26.367 number of times. 624 00:29:26.367 --> 00:29:28.767 You have a good relationship. 625 00:29:28.767 --> 00:29:32.701 You exchanged ambassadors. 626 00:29:32.701 --> 00:29:36.367 What do you say to him about his father when he comes? 627 00:29:36.367 --> 00:29:39.834 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: The first is you have to be as frank as you 628 00:29:39.834 --> 00:29:43.300 can, even if you think that we were behind the assassination. 629 00:29:43.300 --> 00:29:46.133 But we didn't talk about the issue. 630 00:29:46.133 --> 00:29:48.467 You basically said you've got to be frank and 631 00:29:48.467 --> 00:29:50.634 tell me what you think even if you think that Syria was behind 632 00:29:50.634 --> 00:29:52.701 the Hariri assassination. 633 00:29:52.701 --> 00:29:54.901 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Exactly. 634 00:29:54.901 --> 00:29:57.300 If you want to build the relation we have to be fully 635 00:29:57.300 --> 00:29:59.834 frank with each other. 636 00:29:59.834 --> 00:30:02.000 The relationship with Turkey is very good. 637 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:04.267 Turkey was serving as an intermediary between 638 00:30:04.267 --> 00:30:06.267 negotiations between you and the Israelis. 639 00:30:06.267 --> 00:30:08.133 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Yes. 640 00:30:08.133 --> 00:30:10.000 It came that close, in which would you get 641 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:14.934 back the Golan Heights. Yes? 642 00:30:14.934 --> 00:30:17.467 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: This very important. 643 00:30:17.467 --> 00:30:20.133 What we have now as a reference is mainly the United Nations or 644 00:30:20.133 --> 00:30:22.868 Security Council resolution. 645 00:30:22.868 --> 00:30:25.801 It's a very important, but it's not defined. 646 00:30:25.801 --> 00:30:28.801 It talks about the land occupied in '67, but how can you 647 00:30:28.801 --> 00:30:31.968 define this land? 648 00:30:31.968 --> 00:30:35.267 Israel is talking about different line. 649 00:30:35.267 --> 00:30:38.534 How you can define this line? 650 00:30:38.534 --> 00:30:41.767 We wanted in that negotiation to define the line through some 651 00:30:41.767 --> 00:30:44.934 point and Israel wanted to define 652 00:30:44.934 --> 00:30:48.300 its security requirements. 653 00:30:48.300 --> 00:30:51.567 So if we define these two things and we move to the 654 00:30:51.567 --> 00:30:54.767 negotiations, whenever you have arbiter, this arbiter can play 655 00:30:54.767 --> 00:30:58.200 its role only through this paper, not like what happened 656 00:30:58.200 --> 00:31:01.501 in the '90s when some politicians, some of them with 657 00:31:01.501 --> 00:31:04.734 goodwill, spoiled the process with the goodwill, but with 658 00:31:04.734 --> 00:31:07.901 enthusiasm but with a lack of knowledge, and others, 659 00:31:07.901 --> 00:31:11.267 self-serving interests, politicians 660 00:31:11.267 --> 00:31:14.801 for their own interest. 661 00:31:14.801 --> 00:31:17.968 Now when you have this paper, anyone who wants to play a role, 662 00:31:17.968 --> 00:31:21.033 any mediator, any official, any arbiter should play through this 663 00:31:21.033 --> 00:31:23.601 paper, and this is where you can succeed, not to have 19 664 00:31:23.601 --> 00:31:25.801 wasteful years. 665 00:31:25.801 --> 00:31:27.968 You're prepared to start those 666 00:31:27.968 --> 00:31:29.801 negotiations over. 667 00:31:29.801 --> 00:31:31.634 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Of course. 668 00:31:31.634 --> 00:31:33.501 We are ready. 669 00:31:33.501 --> 00:31:35.234 We don't think that it's time for peace. 670 00:31:35.234 --> 00:31:37.000 It's always time for peace. 671 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:38.667 We don't say it's not time fo peace. 672 00:31:38.667 --> 00:31:41.133 It is always time for peace. 673 00:31:41.133 --> 00:31:44.200 You broke the negotiations off because of the 674 00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:47.501 Gaza invasion. 675 00:31:47.501 --> 00:31:50.734 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Syria and Turkey because Olmert deceived 676 00:31:50.734 --> 00:31:53.901 Prime Minister Erdogan four days before the invasion. 677 00:31:53.901 --> 00:31:57.133 Prime Minister Erdogan called me on the phone and Olmert was 678 00:31:57.133 --> 00:32:00.467 in the other room having dinner, and we started talking about 679 00:32:00.467 --> 00:32:03.701 the final details of that paper. 680 00:32:03.701 --> 00:32:06.868 And after one hour, or actually more than one hour of discussion 681 00:32:06.868 --> 00:32:10.067 with the Prime Minister Erdogan and him discussing with Olmert, 682 00:32:10.067 --> 00:32:12.968 he told him, Prime Minister Olmert told Erdogan that I'm 683 00:32:12.968 --> 00:32:16.801 going back to Israel and I will let you know about my final 684 00:32:16.801 --> 00:32:19.968 answer in a few days. 685 00:32:19.968 --> 00:32:22.634 And the answer was attacking Gaza. 686 00:32:22.634 --> 00:32:25.000 That is where the Turks felt deceived and we said the same. 687 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:27.167 But are you prepared to start over? 688 00:32:27.167 --> 00:32:29.400 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Of course. 689 00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:31.634 Through Turkey. 690 00:32:31.634 --> 00:32:33.901 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Through Turkey. 691 00:32:33.901 --> 00:32:36.133 And is the goal a Syria-Israeli 692 00:32:36.133 --> 00:32:38.367 agreement, or have 693 00:32:38.367 --> 00:32:41.033 you now said it has to be a larger agreement 694 00:32:41.033 --> 00:32:43.501 for the Middle East? 695 00:32:43.501 --> 00:32:45.868 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: It has to be comprehensive. 696 00:32:45.868 --> 00:32:48.133 The Syrian-Israeli agreement could be important, but it's not 697 00:32:48.133 --> 00:32:50.300 the final. 698 00:32:50.300 --> 00:32:52.467 There a big difference between talking about 699 00:32:52.467 --> 00:32:54.834 peace treaty and peace. 700 00:32:54.834 --> 00:32:57.367 Peace treaty is like permanent 701 00:32:57.367 --> 00:32:59.767 ceasefire it is not comprehensive. 702 00:32:59.767 --> 00:33:02.067 There is no war. 703 00:33:02.067 --> 00:33:04.300 Maybe you have embassies, but you actually won't have the 704 00:33:04.300 --> 00:33:06.734 trade, you won't have normal relations because people will 705 00:33:06.734 --> 00:33:09.267 not be sympathetic to have this relation. 706 00:33:09.267 --> 00:33:11.934 As long as they are sympathetic with the Palestinians, half a 707 00:33:11.934 --> 00:33:14.467 million in Syria, half a million in Lebanon, and another 708 00:33:14.467 --> 00:33:16.834 few million in other countries. 709 00:33:16.834 --> 00:33:19.367 So comprehensive peace on the Syrian, Lebanese, and 710 00:33:19.367 --> 00:33:21.834 Palestinian track, this is going to be the real peace where 711 00:33:21.834 --> 00:33:24.033 you have normal relations. 712 00:33:24.033 --> 00:33:26.167 This is where can with bury the hatchet, not only 713 00:33:26.167 --> 00:33:28.267 to have peace treaty. 714 00:33:28.267 --> 00:33:30.367 So that's how we see it. 715 00:33:30.367 --> 00:33:32.467 Do you think it will happen soon? 716 00:33:32.467 --> 00:33:34.567 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: From our point of view, it 717 00:33:34.567 --> 00:33:36.634 could be happen soon 718 00:33:36.634 --> 00:33:39.467 if we have another partner, because this is about, actually 719 00:33:39.467 --> 00:33:42.000 the peace process about two parties. 720 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:44.434 If you ask me, I would say yes. 721 00:33:44.434 --> 00:33:46.934 But today we don't have this partner, so far. 722 00:33:46.934 --> 00:33:49.067 At this moment we are don't have a partner. 723 00:33:49.067 --> 00:33:51.300 You don't think Prime Minister Netanyahu wants 724 00:33:51.300 --> 00:33:53.467 to make a deal? 725 00:33:53.467 --> 00:33:55.601 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Again, it's to the about him. 726 00:33:55.601 --> 00:33:57.667 It's about the whole government. 727 00:33:57.667 --> 00:33:59.734 Can he lead the government toward peace? 728 00:33:59.734 --> 00:34:01.934 Is he strong enough to lead this government toward peace, 729 00:34:01.934 --> 00:34:04.100 because, you know, it's a coalition now. 730 00:34:04.100 --> 00:34:06.200 It is a coalition. 731 00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:08.367 You are not -- he doesn't have the majority to say I'm going 732 00:34:08.367 --> 00:34:10.667 in that direction. 733 00:34:10.667 --> 00:34:12.567 So in reality, nothing happening. 734 00:34:12.567 --> 00:34:14.400 So why do it? 735 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:16.267 Where is the time expected? 736 00:34:16.267 --> 00:34:18.634 He's been for now in his position for a year, nearly year 737 00:34:18.634 --> 00:34:20.801 and a half. 738 00:34:20.801 --> 00:34:22.567 And he couldn't do anything. 739 00:34:22.567 --> 00:34:24.334 So I don't know if he has the will or he has the power. 740 00:34:24.334 --> 00:34:26.100 I don't know. 741 00:34:26.100 --> 00:34:27.868 On the other side of the 742 00:34:27.868 --> 00:34:29.634 Palestinians and they are 743 00:34:29.634 --> 00:34:31.667 not unified, is Fatah, Hamas. 744 00:34:31.667 --> 00:34:33.767 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Yes. 745 00:34:33.767 --> 00:34:35.834 Can they be unified? 746 00:34:35.834 --> 00:34:37.901 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Of course they can. 747 00:34:37.901 --> 00:34:39.934 If you help them, they can be unified. 748 00:34:39.934 --> 00:34:41.968 They have to be unified. 749 00:34:41.968 --> 00:34:44.000 Without unification in the Palestinian arena, you cannot 750 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:46.000 have peace. 751 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:47.767 You need this unification. 752 00:34:47.767 --> 00:34:49.200 It is to the about who is going to sign the treaty. 753 00:34:49.200 --> 00:34:50.868 At the end if you want to implement the 754 00:34:50.868 --> 00:34:53.601 treaty you need unification. 755 00:34:53.601 --> 00:34:56.601 You need unified Palestinian. 756 00:34:56.601 --> 00:34:59.901 And what do you think the possibilities are that 757 00:34:59.901 --> 00:35:02.868 Hamas, if there is unification, will support, will support a 758 00:35:02.868 --> 00:35:05.667 recognition of Israel and an agreement between the 759 00:35:05.667 --> 00:35:08.701 Palestinians so that they will no longer say we refuse the 760 00:35:08.701 --> 00:35:11.601 right of Israeli to exist? 761 00:35:11.601 --> 00:35:14.734 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: They said that particularly when they talked 762 00:35:14.734 --> 00:35:17.801 about two state solution, Hamas. 763 00:35:17.801 --> 00:35:20.868 So Hamas is prepared to -- but are they 764 00:35:20.868 --> 00:35:23.934 prepared to renounce their charter? 765 00:35:23.934 --> 00:35:26.968 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: I wouldn't answer on their behalf. 766 00:35:26.968 --> 00:35:29.968 But what I know publicly now that they talked about the two 767 00:35:29.968 --> 00:35:32.767 state solution and they talked about the line of '67. 768 00:35:32.767 --> 00:35:35.267 What do you conclude? 769 00:35:35.267 --> 00:35:37.634 We can conclude that they ar ready. 770 00:35:37.634 --> 00:35:40.234 But how is a different question. 771 00:35:40.234 --> 00:35:43.467 Maybe in different ways than what the authority is doing 772 00:35:43.467 --> 00:35:46.601 today, maybe they have their own way. 773 00:35:46.601 --> 00:35:49.734 Do you believe Israel wants peace? 774 00:35:49.734 --> 00:35:52.801 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: I think people who elect such extremist 775 00:35:52.801 --> 00:35:55.868 governments, they don't want peace. 776 00:35:55.868 --> 00:35:58.667 But I think in politics, I would say let me see what is going to 777 00:35:58.667 --> 00:36:01.267 happen in reality. 778 00:36:01.267 --> 00:36:03.701 I don't believe, but that doesn't mean we have to stop 779 00:36:03.701 --> 00:36:06.033 working for peace. 780 00:36:06.033 --> 00:36:08.067 If I don't believe that they want peace, we have to help them 781 00:36:08.067 --> 00:36:10.300 in believing in peace. 782 00:36:10.300 --> 00:36:12.834 They have to learn that only peace can 783 00:36:12.834 --> 00:36:15.467 protect their country. 784 00:36:15.467 --> 00:36:18.701 What is the biggest thing that is necessary 785 00:36:18.701 --> 00:36:21.467 to make a breakthrough in your judgment? 786 00:36:21.467 --> 00:36:24.367 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: You should ask yourself what happens first. 787 00:36:24.367 --> 00:36:27.300 Occupation, occupation happened first before 788 00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:30.234 migration, not vice versa. 789 00:36:30.234 --> 00:36:33.200 After '48 -- after '48, '67, in different stages. 790 00:36:33.200 --> 00:36:36.167 So definitely the one who occupied the land should 791 00:36:36.167 --> 00:36:39.133 withdraw because my land is like my property, and if you 792 00:36:39.133 --> 00:36:42.133 have a thief who takes your support, 793 00:36:42.133 --> 00:36:45.100 you don't make compromise. 794 00:36:45.100 --> 00:36:48.100 Tell him first give me back my property, my goods, my things, 795 00:36:48.100 --> 00:36:51.334 then we can discuss any compromise. 796 00:36:51.334 --> 00:36:54.200 You don't discuss th compromise with the thief before 797 00:36:54.200 --> 00:36:56.968 having your things. 798 00:36:56.968 --> 00:36:59.567 So that's how we see it. 799 00:36:59.567 --> 00:37:02.267 So the beginning is to end the occupation. 800 00:37:02.267 --> 00:37:04.767 Then you will have -- 801 00:37:04.767 --> 00:37:07.200 But in the conversations everything should 802 00:37:07.200 --> 00:37:10.100 be on the table and there should be no preconditions? 803 00:37:10.100 --> 00:37:13.367 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: We don't have any conditions. 804 00:37:13.367 --> 00:37:16.667 There's only one condition which is international 805 00:37:16.667 --> 00:37:19.834 condition, which is the Security Council resolution on which the 806 00:37:19.834 --> 00:37:22.801 whole peace process is based in 1991. 807 00:37:22.801 --> 00:37:26.234 So we don't have any conditions, but we have rights. 808 00:37:26.234 --> 00:37:29.467 And rights you don't discuss until you go back. 809 00:37:29.467 --> 00:37:32.601 Do you believe this region is going to a place 810 00:37:32.601 --> 00:37:35.734 where it does not need to look for solutions from the west? 811 00:37:35.734 --> 00:37:38.834 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: In the past we used to think that everything 812 00:37:38.834 --> 00:37:41.901 will happen in the west, and to be implemented here. 813 00:37:41.901 --> 00:37:44.934 Then you will have the solution ready. 814 00:37:44.934 --> 00:37:48.067 And you won't have any conflict. 815 00:37:48.067 --> 00:37:51.200 This is very deluded. 816 00:37:51.200 --> 00:37:54.200 Actually the reality is that you have to do your own job. 817 00:37:54.200 --> 00:37:57.000 But you need the support from the west. 818 00:37:57.000 --> 00:37:59.567 But if you don't have the support, we don't wait for it, 819 00:37:59.567 --> 00:38:02.267 we don't wait for the west. 820 00:38:02.267 --> 00:38:04.701 We are going to go forward to solve our problems but we are 821 00:38:04.701 --> 00:38:07.033 not going to wait for the west. 822 00:38:07.033 --> 00:38:09.100 But if they support us, that will make the solution better 823 00:38:09.100 --> 00:38:11.200 and faster. 824 00:38:11.200 --> 00:38:13.300 Let me focus again on the 825 00:38:13.300 --> 00:38:15.367 dynamic of this region. 826 00:38:15.367 --> 00:38:17.467 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Today you have Iran, you have 827 00:38:17.467 --> 00:38:19.567 Turkey, you have 828 00:38:19.567 --> 00:38:22.968 Syria, and you have Qatar. 829 00:38:22.968 --> 00:38:26.534 If you want to talk about the cooperation, for example, 830 00:38:26.534 --> 00:38:30.234 regarding the peace, we had a meeting in Istanbul, me and 831 00:38:30.234 --> 00:38:34.067 Erdoga and the prince of Qatar which was about the peace, 832 00:38:34.067 --> 00:38:37.868 because Turkey and Qatar are partners with Syria 833 00:38:37.868 --> 00:38:41.467 in the peace issue. 834 00:38:41.467 --> 00:38:44.901 So you have different maps regarding different issues. 835 00:38:44.901 --> 00:38:48.267 We had a meeting with Iran regarding defending our rights, 836 00:38:48.267 --> 00:38:51.734 regarding the Israeli aggression, regarding issuing in 837 00:38:51.734 --> 00:38:55.133 Iraq, regarding Iraq, cooperation between Syria, 838 00:38:55.133 --> 00:38:57.968 Turkey and Iran. 839 00:38:57.968 --> 00:39:00.434 So you have different rights, but all of them 840 00:39:00.434 --> 00:39:03.100 in the same region. 841 00:39:03.100 --> 00:39:06.167 So this is the new dynamism that we have that depends on 842 00:39:06.167 --> 00:39:10.033 every subject. 843 00:39:10.033 --> 00:39:14.601 And Russia, where does Russia fit in this? 844 00:39:14.601 --> 00:39:19.501 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: I cannot tell now because this is the first 845 00:39:19.501 --> 00:39:24.434 visit by any president Soviet or Russian to Syria during the 846 00:39:24.434 --> 00:39:29.100 last 66 years, since we had relations with Russia. 847 00:39:29.100 --> 00:39:33.634 It seems to me that Russia is working to regain its own 848 00:39:33.634 --> 00:39:38.033 position but in different way, not like the call to war during 849 00:39:38.033 --> 00:39:42.100 the 60s, 70s and 80s. 850 00:39:42.100 --> 00:39:45.901 I think in a new way through having new lives, good relation, 851 00:39:45.901 --> 00:39:49.467 strong relations. 852 00:39:49.467 --> 00:39:52.934 After he left Syria he went to Turkey to sign the 20 billion 853 00:39:52.934 --> 00:39:56.267 treaties between the two countries. 854 00:39:56.267 --> 00:39:59.801 If you want to look at the space from our perspective, 855 00:39:59.801 --> 00:40:02.868 Syria-Turkey, then Turkey-Russia, so relations, 856 00:40:02.868 --> 00:40:06.200 strong relation between Russia and Turkey will influence 857 00:40:06.200 --> 00:40:09.701 directly and indirectly the relation 858 00:40:09.701 --> 00:40:13.334 between Syria and Russia. 859 00:40:13.334 --> 00:40:16.801 So this is geographic space. 860 00:40:16.801 --> 00:40:20.167 You have to look at it as a map that will affect each other. 861 00:40:20.167 --> 00:40:23.534 What about the affect of this Russian relation? 862 00:40:23.534 --> 00:40:26.701 Simply it is too early to judge. 863 00:40:26.701 --> 00:40:29.834 I don't know yet. 864 00:40:29.834 --> 00:40:33.100 Economically it will definitely affect the region very soon. 865 00:40:33.100 --> 00:40:36.534 And the economy will affect the politics. 866 00:40:36.534 --> 00:40:40.434 How much is something that we have to wait to see. 867 00:40:40.434 --> 00:40:45.234 But it will tell you about a new map being created in this 868 00:40:45.234 --> 00:40:50.834 region, as you call it. 869 00:40:50.834 --> 00:40:55.667 The United States has always believed that Syria 870 00:40:55.667 --> 00:41:00.067 did not do enough to prevent foreigners from coming through 871 00:41:00.067 --> 00:41:04.133 your border with Iraq, and that it was a huge issue for them. 872 00:41:04.133 --> 00:41:07.901 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: See, the borders are 873 00:41:07.901 --> 00:41:11.234 not they to be received. 874 00:41:11.234 --> 00:41:14.267 You can control, you can monitor something like this. 875 00:41:14.267 --> 00:41:17.567 So they are not realistic. 876 00:41:17.567 --> 00:41:21.400 This is the second they talked about Syria smuggling or helping 877 00:41:21.400 --> 00:41:24.567 terrorists to be smuggled inside Iraq. 878 00:41:24.567 --> 00:41:27.667 It is like shooting yourself in the foot, because when you help 879 00:41:27.667 --> 00:41:30.934 the terrorists in Iraq, they will attack you from in Syria. 880 00:41:30.934 --> 00:41:34.534 Exactly. 881 00:41:34.534 --> 00:41:38.200 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: And it' known, it's known that Syria was 882 00:41:38.200 --> 00:41:41.701 the first country maybe in the world before all the Arab and 883 00:41:41.701 --> 00:41:45.100 Middle Eastern countries an before Europe definitely and 884 00:41:45.100 --> 00:41:48.367 before the United States that started fighting with the 885 00:41:48.367 --> 00:41:51.601 terrorists and the extremists in the '70s. 886 00:41:51.601 --> 00:41:54.934 Actually, that started before in the '50s, but it wasn't -- I 887 00:41:54.934 --> 00:41:58.033 mean the main conflict and we defeated them was in the '70s 888 00:41:58.033 --> 00:42:00.834 and early '80s. 889 00:42:00.834 --> 00:42:03.200 So we are not that stupid to go and support terrorists anywhere 890 00:42:03.200 --> 00:42:04.968 in the world, because terrorists 891 00:42:04.968 --> 00:42:07.300 work like the Internet. 892 00:42:07.300 --> 00:42:09.801 You cannot control them. 893 00:42:09.801 --> 00:42:12.400 They don't recognize borders. 894 00:42:12.400 --> 00:42:15.367 If you have terrorists in Iraq it's like having them in Syria. 895 00:42:15.367 --> 00:42:18.334 If you have them in Lebanon or Turkey or Jordan it's like 896 00:42:18.334 --> 00:42:21.300 having them in Syria. 897 00:42:21.300 --> 00:42:24.300 So you cannot -- this is not realistic. 898 00:42:24.300 --> 00:42:27.267 Second, helping terrorists in Iraq means helping the chaos, 899 00:42:27.267 --> 00:42:30.267 and chaos is contagious. 900 00:42:30.267 --> 00:42:33.267 When you have chaos in Iraq means are you going to have 901 00:42:33.267 --> 00:42:36.000 chaos in Syria. 902 00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:38.434 You become more violent, more sectarian, division, later and 903 00:42:38.434 --> 00:42:41.167 this division is going to be like going from Morocco in the 904 00:42:41.167 --> 00:42:43.501 west to Indonesia in the east. 905 00:42:43.501 --> 00:42:46.133 But if I were talking to the Americans today 906 00:42:46.133 --> 00:42:48.434 they would say to me there were many things that you could have 907 00:42:48.434 --> 00:42:50.601 done that you didn't do. 908 00:42:50.601 --> 00:42:53.267 Yes, you can't close your border, but you allowed too many 909 00:42:53.267 --> 00:42:56.267 through your border 910 00:42:56.267 --> 00:42:59.501 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Let me give you the other example. 911 00:42:59.501 --> 00:43:02.934 In 2004, or maybe '05, I'm not sure, the delegation from the 912 00:43:02.934 --> 00:43:06.267 Pentagon, from the State Department, from the army, and 913 00:43:06.267 --> 00:43:09.767 the intelligence came to Syria to ask for cooperation. 914 00:43:09.767 --> 00:43:13.133 And we told them to send a delegation to see what kind of 915 00:43:13.133 --> 00:43:16.400 cooperation we can have on the border. 916 00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:19.667 The same delegation, the same delegation left Syria and 917 00:43:19.667 --> 00:43:23.133 didn't come back again. 918 00:43:23.133 --> 00:43:26.267 We had the same issue recently in Oman when they asked for 919 00:43:26.267 --> 00:43:29.801 cooperation, and I said we are ready to have cooperation to 920 00:43:29.801 --> 00:43:33.100 control or to monitor the border, in Iraq and until then 921 00:43:33.100 --> 00:43:36.868 we haven't received delegation. 922 00:43:36.868 --> 00:43:40.167 I told Senator Kerry about this. 923 00:43:40.167 --> 00:43:43.434 Do you think that the American withdrawal from 924 00:43:43.434 --> 00:43:46.634 Iraq will go well and on time? 925 00:43:46.634 --> 00:43:49.801 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: This is not our debate. 926 00:43:49.801 --> 00:43:52.901 This is wrong debate that ha been circulating in the media 927 00:43:52.901 --> 00:43:56.000 during the last three years, especially in the United 928 00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:59.067 States, whether to leave or not to leave. 929 00:43:59.067 --> 00:44:02.067 Actually the question is how to lead with the political process. 930 00:44:02.067 --> 00:44:04.968 The answer it will be what political process are you going 931 00:44:04.968 --> 00:44:07.334 to launch support in Iraq and when you leave it 932 00:44:07.334 --> 00:44:10.300 going to be better? 933 00:44:10.300 --> 00:44:13.534 The situation will be better, and at that 934 00:44:13.534 --> 00:44:16.968 time you can be committed. 935 00:44:16.968 --> 00:44:20.534 Now any time, of course, we support the idea and the 936 00:44:20.534 --> 00:44:24.200 principles that the United States should leave Iraq. 937 00:44:24.200 --> 00:44:27.868 But that doesn't mean it will make it better or worse. 938 00:44:27.868 --> 00:44:31.567 It's worse, it's going to be bad if you leave. 939 00:44:31.567 --> 00:44:35.033 So what we are worried about if the United States is going to 940 00:44:35.033 --> 00:44:37.934 support or launch a good where they can -- all the Iraqis, then 941 00:44:37.934 --> 00:44:40.400 they will have constitution and the new institutions, and this 942 00:44:40.400 --> 00:44:42.467 is where we are going to say, thank you -- 943 00:44:42.467 --> 00:44:44.367 But I think they would like to have your help in 944 00:44:44.367 --> 00:44:46.167 doing that. 945 00:44:46.167 --> 00:44:48.467 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: We are ready. 946 00:44:48.467 --> 00:44:50.701 We are helping the Iraqi now. 947 00:44:50.701 --> 00:44:52.901 We told the Iraqis we are ready. 948 00:44:52.901 --> 00:44:55.000 But there is no real dialogue between Syria and the United 949 00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:56.834 States regarding Iraq. 950 00:44:56.834 --> 00:44:58.701 There is no dialogue between Syria and the 951 00:44:58.701 --> 00:45:01.067 United States regarding Iraq? 952 00:45:01.067 --> 00:45:03.601 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Regarding Iraq. 953 00:45:03.601 --> 00:45:06.033 They only talk about borders and they only talk about 954 00:45:06.033 --> 00:45:08.334 terrorists, because they deal with the terrorists like 955 00:45:08.334 --> 00:45:10.400 playing a game on the computer where you have terrorists and 956 00:45:10.400 --> 00:45:12.601 you have to shoot them. 957 00:45:12.601 --> 00:45:14.767 That is how they deal with the terrorist issue. 958 00:45:14.767 --> 00:45:16.901 They don't understand that terrorism fighting, meaning 959 00:45:16.901 --> 00:45:18.968 having the atmosphere, the enormous situation, 960 00:45:18.968 --> 00:45:21.033 fighting the chaos. 961 00:45:21.033 --> 00:45:23.100 You cannot fight the chaos while you 962 00:45:23.100 --> 00:45:25.133 have political anarchy. 963 00:45:25.133 --> 00:45:27.200 You should have normal government with the police, with 964 00:45:27.200 --> 00:45:29.400 the army, with the normal situation, 965 00:45:29.400 --> 00:45:31.300 normal political situation. 966 00:45:31.300 --> 00:45:33.534 This is where you don't have chaos. 967 00:45:33.534 --> 00:45:35.968 This is where terrorists fail. 968 00:45:35.968 --> 00:45:38.534 They cannot do anything. 969 00:45:38.534 --> 00:45:40.968 So what is your big challenge today? 970 00:45:40.968 --> 00:45:43.200 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: The biggest challenge is how can 971 00:45:43.200 --> 00:45:45.968 we keep our society as secular as it is today. 972 00:45:45.968 --> 00:45:49.267 As secular? 973 00:45:49.267 --> 00:45:52.501 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Secular, the society, because it secular. 974 00:45:52.501 --> 00:45:55.701 You have diversity, very rich diversity, which 975 00:45:55.701 --> 00:45:58.834 we are proud of. 976 00:45:58.834 --> 00:46:01.934 But in the end we are part of this region. 977 00:46:01.934 --> 00:46:05.000 You cannot stay isolated from the conflict surrounding you. 978 00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:08.167 If you have sectarian Lebanon in our west and sectarian Iraq 979 00:46:08.167 --> 00:46:11.234 on our east, and you don't have the peace process solved on our 980 00:46:11.234 --> 00:46:13.868 southern border, and you have the terrorists dominating the 981 00:46:13.868 --> 00:46:16.968 region and let's say growing with leaps and bounds, you will 982 00:46:16.968 --> 00:46:20.033 be affected from this. 983 00:46:20.033 --> 00:46:23.300 You will be -- you pay the price. 984 00:46:23.300 --> 00:46:26.734 So it is not about being passive and say I'm going to 985 00:46:26.734 --> 00:46:29.901 protect myself. 986 00:46:29.901 --> 00:46:33.534 How can you be active and expand what you have to the others? 987 00:46:33.534 --> 00:46:37.467 So the challenge is facing extremism in this region. 988 00:46:37.467 --> 00:46:41.367 But the extremism, some people believe, 989 00:46:41.367 --> 00:46:44.868 are those people who are never secular, who in fact find in 990 00:46:44.868 --> 00:46:48.200 religion a cause. 991 00:46:48.200 --> 00:46:51.467 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: They always use religion to assume the 992 00:46:51.467 --> 00:46:54.901 mantle of religion through Islam or whatever in order to 993 00:46:54.901 --> 00:46:58.234 have followers. 994 00:46:58.234 --> 00:47:01.501 They only assume it. 995 00:47:01.501 --> 00:47:04.434 I don't think they are convinced about what they are doing. 996 00:47:04.434 --> 00:47:07.133 Some of them, they are ignorant. 997 00:47:07.133 --> 00:47:09.534 They believe they are helping the religion this way. 998 00:47:09.534 --> 00:47:12.100 But at the end, it's not about those. 999 00:47:12.100 --> 00:47:14.634 It's about the others. 1000 00:47:14.634 --> 00:47:17.300 How can they influence, because I mean you always have 1001 00:47:17.300 --> 00:47:20.033 extremists in everything, in politics, in religion, 1002 00:47:20.033 --> 00:47:22.834 Christianity, Islam, Judaism. 1003 00:47:22.834 --> 00:47:25.767 In every religion you have extremism. 1004 00:47:25.767 --> 00:47:29.067 But it is about how much can they influence the society. 1005 00:47:29.067 --> 00:47:31.801 At long as we have open minded people, don't worry about them, 1006 00:47:31.801 --> 00:47:34.634 they are going to be isolated. 1007 00:47:34.634 --> 00:47:37.000 I'm not worried about what mantle they assume to convince 1008 00:47:37.000 --> 00:47:39.400 the other. 1009 00:47:39.400 --> 00:47:42.601 I'm worried about how much the other can protect themselves 1010 00:47:42.601 --> 00:47:46.300 from them. 1011 00:47:46.300 --> 00:47:49.767 But as I listen to you say that it seems an 1012 00:47:49.767 --> 00:47:52.901 incongruity between saying that and looking at who you have 1013 00:47:52.901 --> 00:47:55.734 great relations with and who you support in the region. 1014 00:47:55.734 --> 00:47:58.000 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: That why I said it is to the about who is 1015 00:47:58.000 --> 00:48:00.167 like you and who is not. 1016 00:48:00.167 --> 00:48:02.367 It is about the cause. 1017 00:48:02.367 --> 00:48:04.334 They have support. 1018 00:48:04.334 --> 00:48:06.234 They are not extremists. 1019 00:48:06.234 --> 00:48:08.501 Hezbollah is not extremist? 1020 00:48:08.501 --> 00:48:10.934 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: No, it is not. 1021 00:48:10.934 --> 00:48:13.501 They support peace. 1022 00:48:13.501 --> 00:48:16.200 If you want peace, they support peace. 1023 00:48:16.200 --> 00:48:18.968 They believe in Islam as -- to be the 1024 00:48:18.968 --> 00:48:21.467 government in their country. 1025 00:48:21.467 --> 00:48:24.167 This is their freedom of -- they are free to think 1026 00:48:24.167 --> 00:48:26.934 whatever they want. 1027 00:48:26.934 --> 00:48:29.767 But they never try to implement it by force. 1028 00:48:29.767 --> 00:48:32.634 This is where you cannot blame Lebanon as extremists. 1029 00:48:32.634 --> 00:48:35.534 Extremists want to force you to go in a certain way and 1030 00:48:35.534 --> 00:48:38.467 sometimes they threat you and sometimes kill them. 1031 00:48:38.467 --> 00:48:40.901 This is extremism. 1032 00:48:40.901 --> 00:48:43.467 Of course we are going to have different ideas, different 1033 00:48:43.467 --> 00:48:45.901 political currents, religious currents. 1034 00:48:45.901 --> 00:48:48.334 That is normal. 1035 00:48:48.334 --> 00:48:52.167 This is the diversity that we have. 1036 00:48:52.167 --> 00:48:57.667 But they are not extremists because they never try to 1037 00:48:57.667 --> 00:49:03.901 implement by force their doctrine. 1038 00:49:03.901 --> 00:49:09.734 If Israel would retreat to its '67 boundaries, 1039 00:49:09.734 --> 00:49:14.868 would you encourage Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah to recognize 1040 00:49:14.868 --> 00:49:19.467 their right to exist and reach a full agreement with them? 1041 00:49:19.467 --> 00:49:23.667 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: If you talk about a treaty, part of the 1042 00:49:23.667 --> 00:49:27.767 treaty will be this recognition. 1043 00:49:27.767 --> 00:49:31.634 And who signs the treaty are the governments. 1044 00:49:31.634 --> 00:49:35.300 And when you talk about the peace you talk about Syria 1045 00:49:35.300 --> 00:49:38.767 track, Lebanese track, means Syrian and Lebanese government 1046 00:49:38.767 --> 00:49:42.200 and Palestinian track, Palestinian government. 1047 00:49:42.200 --> 00:49:45.467 When the government recognizes Israel and Israel is committed 1048 00:49:45.467 --> 00:49:48.667 to the treaty, I think the whole mood, the whole atmosphere 1049 00:49:48.667 --> 00:49:52.067 on the popular level will change. 1050 00:49:52.067 --> 00:49:55.334 So everybody will go in that direction. 1051 00:49:55.334 --> 00:49:58.567 But the recognition that you are talking about will come from 1052 00:49:58.567 --> 00:50:01.734 the government, not from the people. 1053 00:50:01.734 --> 00:50:04.601 The people will reflect their recognition by normal relations 1054 00:50:04.601 --> 00:50:07.100 -- by trade, by tourism, many of the kind of relations. 1055 00:50:07.100 --> 00:50:09.501 If Israel is committed I'm sure the people will be very positive 1056 00:50:09.501 --> 00:50:12.167 about the action. 1057 00:50:12.167 --> 00:50:14.934 That takes time. 1058 00:50:14.934 --> 00:50:17.767 To be realistic, that will not happen overnight. 1059 00:50:17.767 --> 00:50:20.634 Conflict for 60 years, the treaty is not enough to change 1060 00:50:20.634 --> 00:50:23.534 it overnight. 1061 00:50:23.534 --> 00:50:26.467 It takes time. 1062 00:50:26.467 --> 00:50:29.400 It needs procedures. 1063 00:50:29.400 --> 00:50:31.901 You start building the trust after the treaty. 1064 00:50:31.901 --> 00:50:34.734 So how to build the trust, that will take time. 1065 00:50:34.734 --> 00:50:37.367 But I'm sure that this normal relation will be dominating 1066 00:50:37.367 --> 00:50:39.834 between Israeli and the neighboring countries. 1067 00:50:39.834 --> 00:50:42.200 There is no doubt about this, whether Hezbollah, Hamas, or any 1068 00:50:42.200 --> 00:50:44.467 other one. 1069 00:50:44.467 --> 00:50:46.834 At the end the organization, they have 1070 00:50:46.834 --> 00:50:49.367 people, they have grassroots. 1071 00:50:49.367 --> 00:50:52.467 The grassroots part this society will be affected. 1072 00:50:52.467 --> 00:50:55.534 So of course it will, and we will encourage, of course we 1073 00:50:55.534 --> 00:50:59.901 will encourage because they always ask for peace. 1074 00:50:59.901 --> 00:51:03.534 People say, this is about you, in the beginning 1075 00:51:03.534 --> 00:51:06.834 when you took over the presidency, you were your 1076 00:51:06.834 --> 00:51:10.200 father's son, that today you have emerged as your own person. 1077 00:51:10.200 --> 00:51:13.467 Do you feel that? 1078 00:51:13.467 --> 00:51:16.667 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: In my house I'm the son of my father. 1079 00:51:16.667 --> 00:51:19.801 But in this position, from the very first time, I should be the 1080 00:51:19.801 --> 00:51:22.901 president who has taken the responsibility of everything. 1081 00:51:22.901 --> 00:51:26.234 And if I was the son of my father in the way they mean it, 1082 00:51:26.234 --> 00:51:29.501 I wouldn't have succeeded in dealing with a 1083 00:51:29.501 --> 00:51:32.801 very difficult circumstance. 1084 00:51:32.801 --> 00:51:35.901 So I wouldn't look at myself in either way. 1085 00:51:35.901 --> 00:51:38.801 I look at myself as somebody who has responsibility, who did 1086 00:51:38.801 --> 00:51:41.634 what he is convinced about, and he is convinced that this is 1087 00:51:41.634 --> 00:51:44.200 for the sake of his people. 1088 00:51:44.200 --> 00:51:46.567 Do you believe you have consolidated your power 1089 00:51:46.567 --> 00:51:48.801 so that you can take more risk now? 1090 00:51:48.801 --> 00:51:51.000 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: No, I didn't consolidate my power. 1091 00:51:51.000 --> 00:51:53.801 I have more support by the public. 1092 00:51:53.801 --> 00:51:56.667 That's what I have during the last three years. 1093 00:51:56.667 --> 00:51:59.567 How do you think you gained that? 1094 00:51:59.567 --> 00:52:02.467 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: I think because they believe that I work 1095 00:52:02.467 --> 00:52:05.434 according to a national agenda. 1096 00:52:05.434 --> 00:52:08.501 That doesn't mean I was actually right. 1097 00:52:08.501 --> 00:52:11.434 I made mistakes. 1098 00:52:11.434 --> 00:52:14.400 But if you made mistakes according to goodwill and based 1099 00:52:14.400 --> 00:52:17.367 on national agenda, nobody would blame you. 1100 00:52:17.367 --> 00:52:20.067 They will support you because are you human, you are going to 1101 00:52:20.067 --> 00:52:22.834 make mistakes. 1102 00:52:22.834 --> 00:52:25.167 So that's how I, again, because I said everything, every 1103 00:52:25.167 --> 00:52:27.400 decision we have to take should be 100 percent Syrian, not 90 1104 00:52:27.400 --> 00:52:29.868 percent, 100 percent Syrian. 1105 00:52:29.868 --> 00:52:32.467 That is what we did. 1106 00:52:32.467 --> 00:52:35.300 That is how I gain the sport. 1107 00:52:35.300 --> 00:52:37.968 That doesn't mean they agree with me and everything, 1108 00:52:37.968 --> 00:52:41.033 supported different form agreeing with. 1109 00:52:41.033 --> 00:52:44.167 They don't agree -- but the support mean the trust. 1110 00:52:44.167 --> 00:52:46.934 Even if you go toward peace when you started negotiations in 1111 00:52:46.934 --> 00:52:49.934 Turkey doesn't mean everybody supported that negotiation. 1112 00:52:49.934 --> 00:52:52.601 Maybe this side, maybe the way, maybe the timing, you have 1113 00:52:52.601 --> 00:52:55.200 different point of view. 1114 00:52:55.200 --> 00:52:58.000 But at the end they trusted you that you are 1115 00:52:58.000 --> 00:53:00.767 going for a good thing. 1116 00:53:00.767 --> 00:53:03.167 Whether you fail or not, at the end of you have goodwill and 1117 00:53:03.167 --> 00:53:05.267 they trust you. 1118 00:53:05.267 --> 00:53:07.167 That's how you get it. 1119 00:53:07.167 --> 00:53:08.968 Thank you. 1120 00:53:08.968 --> 00:53:10.834 >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Thank you for coming here. 1121 00:53:10.834 --> 00:53:12.667 It's pleasure to see you in Damascus. 1122 00:53:12.667 --> 00:53:14.534 Thank you very much, as always. 1123 00:53:14.534 --> >>BASHAR AL-ASSAD: Thank you.