Al-Asad: won't hesitate in pursuing terrorist groups

President Bashar al-Asad on Tuesday stressed that Syria will not be tolerant in pursuing the armed terrorist groups for the sake of protecting Homeland's stability and citizens' security, as it also determined to complete the ongoing steps of comprehensive reform, saying that Syria is open to any help offered by the brotherly and friendly countries in this regard. President al-Asad's remarks came during his meeting with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey in Damascus. The President briefed Minister Davutoglu on the events witnessed by some Syrian cities as a result of the acts of killing and terrorizing perpetrated by the armed terrorist groups against the civilian citizens and law enforcement members. The Turkish Foreign Minister, for his part, affirmed that he is not conveying any message from any one, saying that Turkey is keen on Syria's security and stability. Davutoglu said that the stages the Syrian-Turkish strategic relationship has passed through made the leaderships of the two countries feel that any issue that takes place in any of them is an internal issue for the other. "As Turkey considers that what is happening in Syria is a Turkish internal affair, Syria, too, has the same considerations regarding any issue that faces Turkey," Davutoglu added. He stressed that Syria under the leadership of President al-Asad will become a model in the Arab world after accomplishing the reforms announced by the Syrian leadership, pointing out that stability in Syria is key for the region's stability. The meeting was attended by Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem, Presidential Political and Media Advisor Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, Assistant Foreign Minister Abdul-Fattah Ammoura and the delegation accompanying Minister Davutoglu.