“Britain wants to arm terrorists in Syria”

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has in a rare interview accused Great Britain of wanting to arm terrorists in his country.

Izvor: Tanjug

Sunday, 03.03.2013.

12:15

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DAMASCUS Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has in a rare interview accused Great Britain of wanting to arm terrorists in his country. He told the Sunday Times that he was ready to negotiate with rebels in order to end the crisis but only if they agreed to lay down arms. “Britain wants to arm terrorists in Syria” However, Assad noted that there was a difference between “political entities” he would negotiate with and “armed terrorists”. “We are ready to negotiate with anyone, including militants who surrender their arms. We are not going to deal with terrorists who are determined to carry weapons, to terrorize people, to kill civilians, to attack public places or private enterprise and to destroy the country,” he stressed. In the meantime, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and his Syria envoy Lakhdar Brahimi have said they are prepared to broker peace talks between the Assad regime and the opposition, AFP has reported. The UN estimates 70,000 people have been killed in the 23-month conflict. The Syrian president said it was nonsense to suggest that the conflict was about the president and his future. “If this argument is correct, then my departure will stop the fighting. Clearly this is absurd, and recent precedents in Libya, Yemen and Egypt bear witness to this,” he explained. Assad also accused Britain of wanting to arm terrorists in his country. “How can we expect them to make the violence less while they want to send military supplies to the terrorists and don't try to ease the dialogue between the Syrians," he asked. Britain has been pushing to lift a ban on the sale of arms to Syria's rebels, but at a meeting last month EU foreign ministers ruled that only "non-lethal" aid and "technical assistance" could be given to the opposition. Assad added that “Britain has played a famously unconstructive role in different issues for decades, some say for centuries”. He rejected the possibility of help from Britain to end the conflict in Syria. "We do not expect an arsonist to be a firefighter," Assad added. The Syrian leader accused Great Britain of wanting to see the escalation of the conflict and that it therefore wanted to arm the rebels. “How can we ask Britain to play a role while it is determined to militaries the problem? How can we expect them to make the violence less while they want to send military supply to the terrorists," Assad concluded. Bashar al-Assad (Beta, file) Tanjug

“Britain wants to arm terrorists in Syria”

However, Assad noted that there was a difference between “political entities” he would negotiate with and “armed terrorists”.

“We are ready to negotiate with anyone, including militants who surrender their arms. We are not going to deal with terrorists who are determined to carry weapons, to terrorize people, to kill civilians, to attack public places or private enterprise and to destroy the country,” he stressed.

In the meantime, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and his Syria envoy Lakhdar Brahimi have said they are prepared to broker peace talks between the Assad regime and the opposition, AFP has reported.

The UN estimates 70,000 people have been killed in the 23-month conflict. The Syrian president said it was nonsense to suggest that the conflict was about the president and his future.

“If this argument is correct, then my departure will stop the fighting. Clearly this is absurd, and recent precedents in Libya, Yemen and Egypt bear witness to this,” he explained.

Assad also accused Britain of wanting to arm terrorists in his country.

“How can we expect them to make the violence less while they want to send military supplies to the terrorists and don't try to ease the dialogue between the Syrians," he asked.

Britain has been pushing to lift a ban on the sale of arms to Syria's rebels, but at a meeting last month EU foreign ministers ruled that only "non-lethal" aid and "technical assistance" could be given to the opposition.

Assad added that “Britain has played a famously unconstructive role in different issues for decades, some say for centuries”.

He rejected the possibility of help from Britain to end the conflict in Syria.

"We do not expect an arsonist to be a firefighter," Assad added.

The Syrian leader accused Great Britain of wanting to see the escalation of the conflict and that it therefore wanted to arm the rebels.

“How can we ask Britain to play a role while it is determined to militaries the problem? How can we expect them to make the violence less while they want to send military supply to the terrorists," Assad concluded.

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