There is no such things as “Islamic terrorism,” because terrorism differs from Islam. There’s just terrorism, not Islamic terrorism. But the term “Islamic terrorism” has become widespread.
Regarding fighting terrorism, we are ready to cooperate with anyone in this world with no conditions. That’s crux of our policy, not today, not yesterday; for years, even before the war on Syria, we always said that.
Terrorism is a state of mind that on the one hand has to do with ignorance and, on the other hand, can be attributed to a feeling of desperation over the political situation, which at some point takes the form of revenge.
First of all, when you have a doctor who cut the leg to prevent the patient from the gangrene if you have to, we don’t call butcher ; you call him a doctor, and thank you for saving the lives.
From Russia for example, we have political support, which is different from the cooperation. We have cooperation for 60 years now, but now we have political support.
Whether [Turkey] is a NATO country or not, it doesn’t have the right to invade any other country according to the international law or to any other moral value.
If the American administration want to support Al-Qaeda – go ahead. That’s what we have to tell them, go ahead and support Al-Qaeda, but don’t talk about rebels and free Syrian army.
It is even more so when it comes to Iraq, which is a large Arab country with scientific, material, and human resources and is able to accomplish, at the least, what Lebanon accomplished, and more.
The majority of fighters now are Al-Qaeda. If you want to support them, you are supporting Al-Qaeda, you are creating havoc in the region, and if this region is not stable, the whole world cannot be stable.
The problem with the West is that they start with political reform going towards democracy. If you want to go towards democracy, the first thing is to involve the people in decision making, not to make it.
Why should you use a term [rebels] in the United States and England and maybe other countries and use another term in Syria ? This is a double standard that we don’t accept.
For Turkey, they think that if the Muslim Brotherhood take over the rest of the region, they will be very comfortable, they will be very happy, they will make sure that their political future is guaranteed.
As I said, this [repercussions] may take different forms : direct and indirect. Direct when people want to retaliate, or governments. Indirect when you’re going to have instability and the spread of terrorism all over the region that will influence the west directly.
You said treaties, and a Russian official said ; we have not agreement… contracts, that we have to fulfill, and those contracts are like any country ; you buy armaments, you buy anything you want.
![Bashar al-Assad Quote - Whether [Turkey] is a NATO country or not, it doesn’t have the right to invade any other country according to the international law or to any other moral value.](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/whether-turkey-is-a-nato-country-or-not-it-doesnt--683x1024.jpg)
![Bashar al-Assad Quote - Why should you use a term [rebels] in the United States and England and maybe other countries and use another term in Syria ? This is a double standard that we don’t accept.](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/why-should-you-use-a-term-rebels-in-the-united-sta-683x1024.jpg)
![Bashar al-Assad Quote - On the border area with Lebanon where [Hezbollah forces] want to protect themselves and cooperate with us, but they don’t exist all over Syria.](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/on-the-border-area-with-lebanon-where-hezbollah-fo-683x1024.jpg)
![Bashar al-Assad Quote - It is difficult for anyone to tell you what is going to happen. [Middle East] is an area where everything is on the brink of explosion.](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/it-is-difficult-for-anyone-to-tell-you-what-is-goi-683x1024.jpg)
![Bashar al-Assad Quote - As I said, this [repercussions] may take different forms : direct and indirect. Direct when people want to retaliate, or governments. Indirect when you’re going to have instability and the spread of terrorism all over the region that will influence the west directly.](https://minimalistquotes.com/images/as-i-said-this-repercussions-may-take-different-fo.jpg)
