Syrians see Assad instrumental in fighting terrorism: Pundit

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gives an exclusive interview to AFP in the capital Damascus on February 11, 2016. ©AFP

Press TV has interviewed Hafsa Kara-Mustapha, a London-based journalist and political commentator, and Richard Hellman, president of the Middle East Research Center from Washington, to discuss the situation in Syria.

Kara-Mustapha says the majority of Syrian people want President Bashar al-Assad to remain in power “because he has been instrumental in fighting the terrorists.”

She adds that it is for the Syrian people to decide the political future of their country and other states are not entitled to intervene in the fate of the Arab nation.

The journalist also appreciates concerted efforts by regional powers which are working with the authorities in Damascus to promote the fight against terrorism and maintain Syria’s territorial integrity.

She says the Takfiri terrorists in Syria are funded and supported by Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey to destroy the nation, adding that the Western front’s so-called problem-solving proposals for the future of the Arab state must be rejected.

Kara-Mustapha adds that the so-called Syrian opposition groups oppose any peace talks meant to stop the bloodshed as they are foreign mercenaries who are indifferent to the sufferings of the Syrian people.

Hellman, for his part, blames the Syrian government and its regional supporters for hundreds of thousands of deaths in the country. He says, however, that “Assad can either be elected properly or replaced” in an election.

He further calls for a serious UN Security Council peacekeeping mission based on the international law to observe a ceasefire in Syria.

He says the US lacks “a serious or credible Middle East or Syrian policy,” demanding the Congress specify the American interests in the war-torn country.


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