Al-Assad ready for Early Elections – Ending Terrorism the Way to a Political Solution

Fahwad Al-Khadoumi (nsnbc) : Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad reportedly said that he was ready to take part in early elections. The statement follow’s the Syrian President’s recent surprise visit to Moscow and the visit of a delegation of Russian lawmakers to Damascus. Al-Assad reiterated that ending terrorism is the fastest route to a political solution.

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad receives a Russian delegation on Sunday. Photo courtesy of SANA.

The Deputy of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF), Alexander Yushenko was quoted by the Russian State news agency Tass as saying that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad was ready to hold and participate in early elections in Syria. Yushenko reportedly spoke to Tass via telephone.

Yushenko is part of a delegation of Russian lawmakers that is currently visiting the Syrian capital Damascus with what is described as "a humanitarian mission”. Yushenko quoted Al-Assad as saying that he is ready to hold parliamentary elections "on the basis of all political forces that want Syria’s prosperity”. Yushenko also quoted Al-Assad as saying that he was sure of his potential as presidential candidate.

Bashar Al-Assad has consistently stressed that forming any new government in Syria, including an eventual transitional government had to involve the entire Syrian electorate. Al-Assad and other Syrian MPs as well as members of the domestic Syrian opposition who are not represented in parliament repeatedly stressed that there is no constitutional mandate for forming any government without the involvement of the electorate. Al-Assad, for his part, repeatedly stressed that he fulfills the mandate given to him by the Syrian people and that he is of the opinion that he had to step down, immediately, if he lost elections.

The Russian delegation headed by the Chairman of the Russian State Duma’s (lover house of parliament) Committee on Property Affairs, Sergey Gatilov arrived in the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday. Besides lawmakers, the delegation was also joined by several prominent Russians who are not MPs.

The meeting focused on deeply rooted historical relations between the Syrian and Russian peoples and the importance of consolidating these relations, particularly in the field of counter-terrorism and in providing humanitarian aid, in addition to other spheres, on top of which, the economic domain, reported the Syrian State news agency SANA.

President Al-Assad expressed his appreciation for the Russian federation’s stance with regard to "the support of the Syrian people”. Stances which recently have manifested in the Russian Air Force and the Syrian Arab Army joining forces against terrorism.

President Al-Assad stressed that the current war will determine the future of the region and the world because combating terrorism does not merely benefit Syria but all countries. Al-Assad added that:

"Eradicating terrorist organizations would lead to the political solution that we, in Syria and Russia, seek in a way that satisfies the Syrian people and protects Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.”

Members of the Russian delegation reportedly stressed that the Russian people support the efforts exerted by President al-Assad in counter-terrorism, which sets the foundations for bringing back peace and stability to Syria, as they would form a new world system based on a just ground.

They also expressed conviction that the support, which the decision taken by the Russian President Vladimir Putin on the participation of Russian air force in the war against terrorism has gained in the Duma Council, reflects the support of all Russian community because the war is one, the struggle is against a common enemy, and victory is unquestionable.

The Visit of the Russian delegation comes after President Al-Assad’s recent surprise visit to Moscow where he visited Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.

F/AK – nsnbc 25.10.2015

nsnbc.me