Syria has held meetings with United States : President al-Assad

DAMASCUS, Syria — President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview published on Sunday that Syria has held meetings from time to time with  United States .

President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview with a Abkhazian Foreign Minister Inal Ardzinba, published by Syria’s official Sana news agency.

Al-Assad asked about the possibility of re-engaging in dialogue with the West, “Hope always exists, even when we know that there may not be an immediate result. Politics is the art of the possible; we must engage with them regardless of our negative opinion of them and explain that we will not compromise our rights. We will only cooperate with them based on equality. Currently, the United States illegally occupies part of our lands, funds terrorism, and supports “Israel,” which also occupies our lands. However, we meet with them from time to time, even though these meetings do not lead to anything tangible. But everything will change.”

“The only way to defeat us is to destroy our national identity, “President al-Assad asserted, “the conflicts unleashed during the last ten years have to do with national identity that must be protected from external influences.”

“All the conflicts unleashed during the last ten years have to do with national identity that must be protected from external influences.” opined that “we could be friends of the West, but the West does not accept friends or partners, and only wants lackeys.”

Addressing Western attitudes, President al-Assad criticized the West’s preference for compliant allies over genuine partnerships. He highlighted the dichotomy between Western rhetoric on democracy and their intolerance towards dissent, portraying democracy as synonymous with unwavering obedience.

“They love to talk about democracy; however, they can’t stand it when someone tells them ‘No’ because for them democracy is always saying ‘Yes,'” President Al-Assad said.