Syria’s President ,Bashar al Assad delivered a rare speech on Sunday in which he offered a road map to end the on going conflict between his government and the opposition.

On a televised speech at the Opera House in the capital Damascus ,Assad called for full national mobilization of Syrians if the crisis is to be put to an end. “Syria will not get out of its crisis without a full national mobilization,” Assad said.

President Bashar Al Assad

Assad  offered his own vision for the political solution while simultaneously showing unwavering resolve to combat terrorism.

According to the president, the political solution to the Syrian crisis includes three phases: the first one calls on all regional and concerned countries to “abide by a total cessation of arming, funding and harboring gunmen.” Wall Street Journal Reports

The first phase should keep up with a halt of all terrorist operation by the rebels and would be followed by stopping military operations, Assad said.

He said that this phase is also based on finding mechanism to make sure of the commitment of all parties to ending terrorist operations and controlling the borders, adding that the current government would start intensive contacts with all spectra of the Syrian society to run “open dialogue for convening a national dialogue conference with the participation of all forces that are desirous of finding a solution in Syria.”

The second phase, Assad said, includes an invitation by the current government for a national dialogue to reach a national charter that would draw the country’s political future. He said that this charter would be put for a popular referendum and an expanded government would be formed.

The third phase includes forming a new government according to the new constitution and holding a national reconciliation conference, he said, adding that this phase should also include a general amnesty and reconstruction of infrastructure.

President Assad stated  that the West is the one “who has slammed doors before dialogue because it’s accustomed to give orders and we are used to sovereignty, independence and the freedom of decision.”

The US  has however condemned  Bashar al-Assad’s speech as delusional,The Telegraph reports

“Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s road map to end the civil war ravaging his country is “detached from reality” and he should step down ” the US State Department has said.

Mr Assad’s speech “is yet another attempt by the regime to cling to power and does nothing to advance the Syrian people’s goal of a political transition. His initiative is detached from reality,” spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

“Assad has lost all legitimacy and must step aside to enable a political solution and a democratic transition that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people.” she added

By UP