Assad: "Israel΄s" Barbaric Aggression Must Stop

 
Source: Agencies, 6-1-2009

For the second consecutive day, the European diplomacy was active in the region in a bid to put an end to the "Israeli" blitz against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip that has so far claimed the lives of more than 575 people and injured more than 2780 others.

In this context, and hours after "Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected calls for a ceasefire including the EU proposal for a 48-hour truce, French President Nicolas Sarkozy landed in Syria, betting on his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad to play a role to resolve the conflict.
However, Sarkozy sought to put the victim and the murderer on equal footing and held Hamas responsible for "the current conflict." The French President heard from Assad firm and strong stances on the nature of the "Israeli" aggression in Gaza.

Assad denounced the situation in Gaza as "more like a detention camp aimed at crushing the Palestinian will."
"What's happening in Gaza is a real war crime," Assad warned.
He criticized "Israel" for not drawing lessons from the 2006 war on Lebanon. "They have to perceive that the resistance is not an organization that they can dismantle or a person they can assassinate; it's a full concept that's spreading," he explained.

"The "Israeli" barbaric aggression on Gaza must immediately stop," Assad firmly said, calling at the same time for an immediate ceasefire alongside lifting the inhumane siege against the Gaza Strip. "Discussing all details over Gaza will take place after lifting the blockade," he said.

The Arab Summit president, meanwhile, renewed his commitment to hold an urgent Arab Summit to discuss the "Israeli" offensive. "We are determined to hold such a summit even if conditions force us to hold a small one with only those who attend," Assad pointed out, adding that "we'll study the issue and then decide."

Sarkozy, in turn, called for strengthening all effort to end the "crisis." "There is no military solution for Gaza and violence should stop now," Sarkozy said. "We are looking together with regional friends for an exit from the crisis," he added.

The French leader said he was convinced and so was Europe that Syria could make an important contribution in a solution to "this regional crisis." "All active factions, including Hamas, should be pressured to reach ceasefire and I believe Syria can pressure Hamas to reach ceasefire," Sarkozy said.

"I do not regret initiating dialogue with Syria," Sarkozy reiterated while answering a reporter's question. He noted that he was aware of the influence Syria has in the region and sure that President Assad would spare no effort to reach peace in the region.

"What's happening is unbearable," Sarkozy emphasized. "Everything happening in Gaza must end now," he said, affirming that there can't be a winner and a loser at the end of the conflict. "All those who are able to work for peace should begin action immediately," he said.