Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad stressed that a homeland is the home, underlining importance of defending it regardless of the challenges. Meanwhile, the speech of the Syrian leader was aired by Guld media outlets, in a potential shift towards Damascus.
In a speech on state TV about the repercussions of the earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey on February 6, President Assad thanked “sisterly and friendly states” that provided aid to Syria following the earthquake.
“A homeland is a home, and its protection is a duty, regardless of the type and magnitude of the challenge, and regardless of the capabilities. This was the case since the first moments of the earthquake. This deep and overwhelming sense towards the homeland, our home, Syria, was felt by the one family inhabiting it, individuals and institutions.”
He also said the suffering from the earthquake was compounded by the 12-year Syrian war, sanctions and terrorist subversion.
“More importantly, it is more expressive, for it comes after twelve years of war and embargo, with the accompanying death, sabotage and lack of resources on the national level.”
“The war has exhausted a lot of the national resources,” said Assad.
He added that Syria was unprepared due to its lack of experience with earthquakes.
“This was not only because of the war and the sanctions, but also because Syria has not been an earthquake area for about two and a half centuries. Neither the buildings nor the institutions nor the equipment were prepared for different types of natural disasters. This made it the first challenge of its kind, and the largest of its kind.”
The Syrian leader affirmed the need to continue dealing with the repercussions of the earthquake step by step.
“After completing the rescue stage, providing emergency shelters and the basic requirement in terms of food, clothes and medicine, which have been done so far. The relevant government institutions have started to provide temporary housing, until permanent housing is provided at a later stage.”
Gulf Media Broadcasts Assad Speech
Meanwhile, several Arab Gulf outlets, some owned by the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, broadcast Assad’s speech, in a move that may signal a shift after years of going dark and refraining from airing statements made by the Syrian president.
Gulf media outlets’ broadcasting a speech by Assad is rare and could be further indication of rapprochement between Syria and the Gulf.
Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 after the start of the foreign-backed war. Saudi Arabia cut off relations in 2012 and supported terrorist groups early on in the conflict. The UAE’s relations with Syria also grew strained after the war.
Things began to change when Assad’s forces started winning the war after the 2015 Russian intervention, and the Syrian government now controls most of the country. UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Syria in 2021 in a major display of normalization with the Assad government.
Several Gulf and other Arab states sent aid to Syria following this month’s earthquake. Saudi Arabia sent a plane to Syria earlier this week carrying aid. This was the first time since 2012 that a Saudi plane landed in Syria.
Source: SANA and Al-Monitor
