Asad offers vague reforms, urges refugees to return

President Bashar al-Asad delivers a speech at Damascus Univerity Monday In a speech at Damascus University on Monday, embattled Syrian president Bashar al-Asad addressed the unrest that has been spreading through the country since mid-March. The leader sent mixed messages on reforms, but was clear on his position that the uprisings were a plot based on rumors, which, “whether malicious or innocent, are untrue.”
The address was Asad’s third since demonstrations and riots began.  He encouraged refugees who had fled to Turkey to return, saying they had nothing to fear.
Despite claiming he did not want to “waste our time discussing it,” a great deal of the speech focused on what he believes to be an international conspiracy against the state. With its enviable for its geopolitical position, Asad said he does “not think there is a stage in Syria’s history where it was not the target of some sort of conspiracy.”
“Conspiracies are like germs, after all, multiplying every moment everywhere. They cannot be eliminated, but we can strengthen the immunity of our bodies in order to protect ourselves against them. It doesn’t require much analysis, based on what we heard from others and witnessed in the media, to prove that there is indeed a conspiracy.”
He used the speech to send a message of hope and condolences to the families of those killed, saying “we aim at a future full of hope; hope that our homeland will restore the harmony and tranquility that it always enjoyed,” and made it clear that a return to stability was the state’s priority.
He said he had felt the loss of martyrs “personally.”
“We have been through difficult times. In terms of our security and stability, we have paid a heavy price."
He went on to discuss the demands of activists and the reforms the state is undertaking, saying he has found himself at the center of a national dialogue.  Conceding that there are some with “rightful demands,” he nevertheless said that “the urgent need of some people also does not justify the spreading of chaos, the breaking of laws, and harming of public interests.”
“For criminals and enemies of the state chaos was a golden opportunity that should be grasped in order to ensure that they remain free and persist in their illegal activities.”
He questioned the rioting and demonstrations that have taken place in cities and towns across Syria, saying, “There is no development without stability, and there can be no reform through destruction, sabotage, or chaos.”
In terms of the international response to the uprising, he stated that in “intensive” meetings with citizens, he has found that those with legitimate concerns are “against any foreign intervention under any pretext.”
Criminals, he said, have “distorted the country’s image in the outside world and opened the way, and even called for, foreign intervention.”
In terms of reforms, Asad discussed the political steps that he was initiating, including the eradication of corruption, granting citizenship to Kurds, lifting emergency law and abolishing the state security court, and setting up committees to “widen the scope of democratic life.”  He mentioned setting up a concrete timeframe for reforms, but was vague on deadlines.
While he said he may be “a bit late” on reforms, he went on to say that he would like to see the return “to normal life” as soon as possible, and that Syria would “rise again stronger and more tenacious.”
In response to the proposed reforms, the British foreign minister William Hague reacted with incredulity.
“President Asad’s speech today was disappointing and unconvincing. If President Asad is to restore any credibility the Syrian people need to see concrete action, not vague promises.”
He called for “rapid and real implementation of substantial reforms,” and   the “immediate end to violence by Syrian security forces, the release of all political prisoners, an end to the torture and abuse of those who remain in detention…”
Over 20,000 people have been arrested since demonstrations first began, and an estimated 1,700 have been killed.  Syria contends that all arrests were legal and permission had been obtained from the Attorney General for the arrest and prosecution of each individual, and that they are in clear alignment with the state’s goal of restoring stability.