Syria: Exiled Assad uncle wants to lead transition (Rif'at)
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2011/Nov-14/154005-syria-exiled-assad-uncle-wants-to-lead-transition.ashx
November 14, 2011 12:11 PM
By Deborah Pasmantier
Agence France Presse
PARIS: Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad's exiled uncle, a former regime insider accused of carrying out a massacre in 1982, says he wants to oversee a peaceful transition of power in his homeland.
On Sunday, Rifaat al-Assad took charge of a new opposition movement in exile. Afterwards, in an interview with AFP and Le Monde, he urged Arab and world powers to negotiate his nephew's safe departure from power.
But Rifaat's former close ties to the regime and his current gilded life -- since quitting Syria in 1984 he has lived in luxury properties in London, Paris and Marbella -- may undermine his appeal to other opposition groups.
"The solution would be that the Arab states guarantee Bashar al-Assad's security so he can resign and be replaced by someone with financial backing who can look after Bashar's people after his resignation," he argued.
"It should be someone from the family ... me, or someone else," he said.
Since March, Assad's regime has been violently repressing a popular revolt against his rule, a campaign which the United Nations says has left at least 3,500 people dead and which has drawn international condemnation.
Opposition groups have been organising to form a credible alternative government. Rifaat's National Democratic Council is led by close allies from his own party and former members of the ruling Baath Party.
Rifaat al-Assad, aged 73 or 74, is the younger brother of Syria's former dictator Hafez al-Assad and was a feared figure who commanded his internal security forces in the 1970s and early 1980s.
In 1982 these forces attacked the town of Hama to put down an Islamist revolt, in an attack which historians and rights groups such as Amnesty International estimate killed between 10,000 and 25,000 civilians.
Then, in 1983, with his brother receiving treatment for heart problems, he tried to seize power himself. The attempt failed, Hafez recovered, and the next year Rifaat left Syria for a long life in well-heeled exile.
Speaking to AFP on Sunday, Rifaat dismissed reports that he had a leading role in the Hama massacre as a "myth" and insisted he is now best placed to bring the latest crisis to an end.
"The regime is ready to go but needs guarantees not just of the personal safety of its members, but also that there will not be civil war after it is gone," he said, warning of trouble between Syria's religious communities.
The Assad clan are members of Syria's Alawite minority, which controls most senior posts in the security forces, while the bulk of the population are from the Sunni tradition.
"We need a kind of international or Arab alliance ... that could enter into talks with the government itself ... and be a real guarantor of the concessions that the regime would make," he said.
Rifaat suggested that Britain, France, Russia or Iran play a role.
He was also dismissive of the other opposition groups, branding the main Syrian National Council of Paris-based Burhan Ghaliun "a band of Muslim Brothers hiding behind someone who is unknown in Syria".
He said the internal opposition groups were ready for compromise, but added they would be unable to negotiate a truce without outside help.
Syria capable of addressing unrest
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/210125.html
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:4PM
An exclusive interveiw with George Jabour, advisor to Syria's former president
A Syrian presidential advisor says that the Syrian government is capable of addressing the country's unrest with the help of its local, aligned neighbors.
The Syrian government on Sunday called for an urgent Arab summit to address the ongoing crisis in the country.
Press TV has conducted an interview with George Jabour, advisor to Syria's former president, from Damascus to discuss the issue.
The following is a transcript of the interview.
Press TV: What do you make of the speech and Syria's efforts in bringing reform to their country?
Jabour: I suppose the most important thing that was mentioned in this regards is that we should establish, as soon as possible, a preparatory committee for the national dialogue. This is important.
He said, of course, the opposition should be represented in this preparatory committee. I hope, personally, that this preparatory committee would be announced soon.
What is important also is what he said, that the solution to the Syrian crisis should be Syrian with the help of the Arabs and the French. He mentioned the efforts of Russia to help in pursuing the opposition to attend the national dialogue conference.
I think that the press conference of the foreign minister was assuring in the sense that Syria has the means to overcome the crisis that it is suffering from.
Press TV: Also, what is your analysis of Syria being suspended from the Arab League?
Jabour: This is a conditional suspension. It will take effect on the 16th. But then it will be revoked if certain measures were taken from now until the 16th. We are now on the 14th.
And now the Syrian authorities declared that they continue to implement the Arab initiative that was agreed upon between Syria and the committee.
محلل سياسي سوري: على دمشق اتخاذ قرارت راديكلية فعلا وليس قولا
Syrian political analyst: on Damascus to take decisions and not really Radekleh word
http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_news/news/571588
14.11.2011 09:56
Thabet Salem, a Syrian political analyst, in an interview with "Russia today," said the Syrian leadership has to do with radical reforms immediately if she wanted out of the current impasse by taking radical decisions really, not in words, to form a new government and amend the constitution and call for direct elections, in order to return from confusion, then we can feel each party as a victor.
He added that Damascus to call an emergency Arab summit is an attempt to take out a new deadline to Syria from severe shock by the Council of Ministers of the Arab League. The analyst ruled out the possibility to accept the invitation of the Council of Ministers of the fact that the Arab League take decisions in consultation with the governors of the member states at the Arab League.
The analyst noted, at the same time, that the crisis will go towards internationalization in the absence of reforms to begin immediately, where the case will be in front of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations and will sanction and the development of international observers to protect civilians.
He stressed the need to protect Syria is the first and last goal, regardless of who governs.
US, West fueling unrest in Syria
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/210087.html
Mon Nov 14, 2011 4:2PM
An exclusive interview with Ashwaq Abbas, professor at the Arab League of Damascus
A prominent professor says that the US and its allies are influencing the Arab League to open a way for the Western interference into internal affairs of Syria.
Press TV has conducted an interview with Ashwaq Abbas, professor at the Arab League of Damascus, to discuss the issue further.
The following is a transcript of the interview.
Press TV: Syrians have held rallies throughout the country. President Assad's government has called for an emergency Arab League summit. First of all, how probable is it that the summit will be held? Secondly, tell us why does Damascus want to have this summit?
Abbas: I think it will not help because the Arab League took the decision. And Syria is now trying to make a peaceful solution to the crisis - she wanted to solve the problem in Syria by a diplomatic and peaceful way.
But, I think the Arab League, according to the last decision, tried to put Syria under pressure and postpone the crisis of Syria to become like an international crisis, not local or trying to solve by an Arab solution or Arab measures.
Press TV: The Arab League's decision to suspend Syria's membership came as the league has, basically, been turning a blind eye to the killings that's taking place in Bahrain and Yemen. Why the difference as far as how they're reacting, in your opinion?
Abbas: Before I give you my opinion, I have to focus on the [idea] that if you want to stop the Syrian diplomacy, the Arab League must take this decision by the head committee in the Arab League, and the expression of its own members in the Arab League.
But yesterday, we saw three states, Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq that refused or stopped to vote on this decision.
Actually, I think we need a majority. We need a lot of pressure to not give the Arab League the opportunity to make this crisis in Syria by applying for a foreign plan with the Americans, Europeans and between two proxies, Israel.
We think that in Syria, the Arab League does not take the correct and perfect solution to solve the problem. The Arab League's decision will make the crisis in Syria become more and more.
Let's say, it will put the Arab League or the Arab states at the end of the stage in the region because now we think there are some foreign projects or foreign plans between the two proxies like America and the Europeans. They want to change the game in the state, the game in the region.
And what we also saw for Iran and the nuclear file is this kind of solution in the region, a new game in the new order, and a new control of play in the region.
Press TV: The Arab League has been setup to protect these Arab countries. Why would the Arab League listen to outside parties, you were talking about, for example you named the United States. Why would they work against the interests of the Arab World?
Abbas: Actually, I think they asked the Arab League to "make it or take it" in the last meeting, to give Arabian legitimacy to make the crisis in Syria into an international crisis.
Before, in the Security Council, they failed to activate this, or they failed to make it like this, because we have a veto from Moscow, a veto from China; and because they felt they moved the old game for the Arab League, especially since we have many countries like Qatar or the other Arabic states.
They wanted to play this role for the United States of America or for the European Union. It's something to exchange the play, or to exchange the view.
And what we heard today from Moscow is that the Foreign Minister [Sergey] Lavrov said that Moscow's security is part of Russian security. It gave me a very important idea that it's just an international [balance] - an international play - that they take from the Syrian [alarm] to play this game.
Huge Crowds before Foreign Ministry in Damascus in Rejection of AL Decision
http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/11/14/381557.htm
Nov 14, 2011
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – A crowd of citizens on Monday gathered in front of the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry to express support for the national independent decision and rejection of the Arab League's decision against Syria.
The participants held national flags and chanted slogans in rejection of foreign interference in the Syrian internal affairs.
They called upon the Arab countries to inspect the real stances of the Syrian people, stressing that Syria's suspension from the Arab League means that League is dead.
One participant, Abu Nadir, said "I'm 60 years old. I came here to express my rejection of the League's decision. We took to streets because it is our duty to defend the country we are living in under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad."
Mass rally in Al-Yarmouk Camp to Express Loyalty to Syria in Face of Plot, Rejection of AL Decision
(omitted)
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