Agencies, Beirut :
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he supports any political dialogue to end his country’s conflict, even if its effects are limited.
In a televised speech on Sunday before local dignitaries in Damascus, the embattled president added that any initiative that is not based on fighting “terrorism” will be “hollow” and “meaningless”.
In his address, Assad said groups fighting to topple him had received increased backing from their state sponsors, in a reference to countries including Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
He also tried to justify why the Syrian army has given up some areas of Syria, including the northwestern city of Idlib. He said it was due to military priorities.
He said: “It was necessary to specify critical areas for our armed forces to hang on to. Concern for our soldiers forces us to let go of some areas.”
He added that: “Every inch of Syria is precious.”
The Syrian army has faced a series of battlefield setbacks since March: It lost most of the northwestern province of Idlib to a rebel alliance including the Syrian al-Qaeda branch, the Nusra Front, and important areas of the southern border region to mainstream groups of the “Southern Front”.
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group also seized the central city of Palmyra from the Syrian military in May.
Syria’s army once had around 300,000 members, but it has been significantly reduced in size by deaths, defections and a rise in draft dodging.
“There is a lack of human resources” in the army, Assad said.
“But that doesn’t mean we can talk about collapse,” he added. “We will resist… the armed forces are capable of defending the motherland.”
“We are not collapsing. We are steadfast and will achieve victory,” said Assad, who was interrupted several times by applause. “Defeat does not exist in the dictionary of the Syrian Arab army.”
In his speech, Assad tried to justify why the Syrian army has given up some areas of the country, including the northwestern city of Idlib. Assad-allied forces, including fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Iranian advisers, control a little less than half of Syria’s 185,000 square kilometers (71,400 square miles).
“It was necessary to specify critical areas for our armed forces to hang on to,” Assad said. “Concern for our soldiers forces us to let go of some areas.”
He added: “Every inch of Syria is precious.”
Assad’s speech comes after his government announced a general amnesty for army deserters and draft dodgers Saturday.
There are thousands of army deserters in and outside Syria, many of whom have gone on to fight with rebels seeking to topple Assad. The overstretched Syrian army suffers manpower shortages as young men flee the country to avoid compulsory military conscription.
Assad has issued similar amnesties for criminals, but has not released any of the thousands of political prisoners believed to be in Syria’s prisons.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he supports any political dialogue to end his country’s conflict, even if its effects are limited.
In a televised speech on Sunday before local dignitaries in Damascus, the embattled president added that any initiative that is not based on fighting “terrorism” will be “hollow” and “meaningless”.
In his address, Assad said groups fighting to topple him had received increased backing from their state sponsors, in a reference to countries including Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
He also tried to justify why the Syrian army has given up some areas of Syria, including the northwestern city of Idlib. He said it was due to military priorities.
He said: “It was necessary to specify critical areas for our armed forces to hang on to. Concern for our soldiers forces us to let go of some areas.”
He added that: “Every inch of Syria is precious.”
The Syrian army has faced a series of battlefield setbacks since March: It lost most of the northwestern province of Idlib to a rebel alliance including the Syrian al-Qaeda branch, the Nusra Front, and important areas of the southern border region to mainstream groups of the “Southern Front”.
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group also seized the central city of Palmyra from the Syrian military in May.
Syria’s army once had around 300,000 members, but it has been significantly reduced in size by deaths, defections and a rise in draft dodging.
“There is a lack of human resources” in the army, Assad said.
“But that doesn’t mean we can talk about collapse,” he added. “We will resist… the armed forces are capable of defending the motherland.”
“We are not collapsing. We are steadfast and will achieve victory,” said Assad, who was interrupted several times by applause. “Defeat does not exist in the dictionary of the Syrian Arab army.”
In his speech, Assad tried to justify why the Syrian army has given up some areas of the country, including the northwestern city of Idlib. Assad-allied forces, including fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Iranian advisers, control a little less than half of Syria’s 185,000 square kilometers (71,400 square miles).
“It was necessary to specify critical areas for our armed forces to hang on to,” Assad said. “Concern for our soldiers forces us to let go of some areas.”
He added: “Every inch of Syria is precious.”
Assad’s speech comes after his government announced a general amnesty for army deserters and draft dodgers Saturday.
There are thousands of army deserters in and outside Syria, many of whom have gone on to fight with rebels seeking to topple Assad. The overstretched Syrian army suffers manpower shortages as young men flee the country to avoid compulsory military conscription.
Assad has issued similar amnesties for criminals, but has not released any of the thousands of political prisoners believed to be in Syria’s prisons.
