Syria's VP acknowledges crisis deepens
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E-mail Xinhua, December 17, 2012
Syrian Vice-President Farouk al- Shara'a acknowledged that the 21-months-old crisis in his country is deep and that "with every passing day, the solution gets further away, militarily and politically."
Al-Shara'a broke the silence to slam the rumors of his defection, and made the remarks during an interview with the Lebanese al-Akhbar newspaper that was published Monday.
The longtime vice president made it clear that "we must be in the position of defending Syria's existence. We are not in a battle for the survival of an individual or a regime."
He said that Syria's problems "have multiplied and are complicated to an extent where ongoing military operations cannot be kept away from the normal life of citizens."
According to al-Akhbar, al-Shara'a said "several issues must be tackled in order to reach a solution. Nobody has the illusion that things will return to what they used to be, because you cannot turn back the clock."
"For over a year, I have been seeing the line that links the events. The way events are heading will lead to an uncomfortable place where things will definitely go from bad to worse."
"What is happening in Syria is complicated, elaborate, and intricate. If you try to unravel it, it might get more complex and the hidden stitches could multiply, instead of guiding you to a solution," he explained.
On the ongoing military showdown across Syria, al-Shara'a said "the problem gets bigger and deeper when some start thinking that victory and defeat are possible. The opposition forces combined cannot decide the battle of overthrowing the regime militarily, unless they aim to pull the country into chaos and an unending circle of violence."
Commenting on the international calls for him to head a transitional phase after President Bashar al-Assad, al-Shara'a said he had informed all those who contact him that he will not accept to head any transitional government and does not aspire for it. He is only worried about Syria, according to al-Akhbar.
About the solution to the prolonged crisis, al-Shara'a stressed that "the solution will not be realistic unless it was initiated at the highest levels." He pointed out that both the current administration and the opposition should work together to maintain the fabric of the homeland, adding that no party can claim to be the sole legitimate representative of the Syrians.
"The loss of trust between these two sides, and therefore the impossibility of getting together for a direct dialogue, will lead to continuous destruction and dismantling, which will only benefit the Israeli occupation at this stage," he said.
On the foreign intervention scenarios, al-Shara'a stressed that such intervention will never happen and will be resisted.
"When we say that we refuse any external intervention, we base this on the fact that there was no consensus from the people to involve our national army in the crisis to begin with. So does anyone have the illusion that this people will accept foreign armies on Syrian soil? This will never happen and it will be resisted. The preeminence and unity of the Syrian army are indispensable in any of the proposed political solutions and discussions," he said.
The veteran of the Syrian administration also made it clear that "any settlement, whether starting with talks or agreements between Arab, regional, or foreign capitals, cannot exist without a solid Syrian foundation."
"The solution has to be Syrian, but through a historic settlement, which would include the main regional countries, and the members of UN Security Council. This settlement must include stopping all shapes of violence, and the creation of a national unity government with wide powers," he added.
