The Standard on Saturday
Date: 02.07.2016
Page 33
Article size: 124 cm2
ColumnCM: 27.55
AVE: 63377.77
Assad: Western nations collaborating with Syria
SYDNEY, FRIDAY
Western nations publicly critical tually, most of the Western officials, tween the countries through back
of Syrian President Bashar Assad's they only repeat what the United channels, including "businessmen
regime have been quietly sending se­ States wants them to say. This is the going (and) traveling around the
world and meeting with the officials
curity officials to collaborate with his reality," he said.
President Barack Obama is op­ in the United States and in Europe,"
government, Assad said in an inter­
posed to armed intervention in Syr­
view broadcast Friday.
"But there's nothing serious," he
ia's civil war, which has left at least
SBS news channel, the Syrian leader 250,000 people dead and contribut­ said. "Because we don't think the ad­
accused Western governments of hy­ ed to a global refugee crisis. Though ministration, the American adminis­
tration, is serious about solving the
pocrisy for criticising him while
working with him behind the scenes. he blamed Assad for using chemical problem in Syria."
"This is the double standard of weapons in 2013 and threatened
Assad said he was not opposed to
the West in general: They attack us military strikes against Syrian forces, working with the US, but criticised
he has thus far only authorised
politically and they send us their of­ strikes against the Islamic State America for creating problems that
ficials to deal with us under the table, movementandotherU.S.­designated it fails to solve.
"(Former President George W.)
especially the security, including terror groups in Syria.
Assad said that while he had no Bush invaded Iraq; in a few weeks, he
your government," Assad told SBS.
"They all do the same. They don't dialogue directly with the U.S., there could occupy Iraq. But then what's
want to upset the United States. Ac­ was indirect communication be­ next? It's not about occupying. This
is a great power. We're not a great
power," Assad said. ­ AP
In an interview with Australia's
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya