Defiant Assad meets scholars, religious figures, urges unity

DAMASCUS, Aug 25 (KUNA) -- Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad urged scholars and religious figures to heed their responsibility to stress unity and support of reforms in the country, in an Iftar banquet he hosted Wednesday.
Al-Assad noted the recent unrest in Syria could and should serve as a lesson, remarking that the holy month of Ramadan is a very special time where one should be doubly-sure of one's actions and careful to avoid all that would bring about divide and strife.
Rather than get carried away with sentimental review of the recent events, he said, the nation needs to analyze developments rationally and the elite has a responsibility to instill this attitude among the laymen and among the young in particular.
The "individual actions" of some people and acts which sought religion as a guise should not be tolerated as they jeopardize the interest of the nation and should not be taken as representing the whole Syrian people. Ethical corruption was among the main causes of the recent confrontations, he added.
The state is going ahead with reform, which needs cautious progress if it is to realize the aspirations of the people and must be based on basic rather than transient or non-collective needs.
Al-Assad urged the scholars and religious figures to support this reform, which are not jeopardized in any way by the state's efforts to restore law and order.
The Army, he remarked, has a duty to protect the property of the state and that of the people, as well as all parties' security and interests.
"Syria is a long-lusted over spot for many external parties, most particularly western parties. Through instilling divide and sedition and through challenging the legitimate role of our security forces, they hope to force our nation to make compromises that we do not accept.
"This," he stressed, "is not going to happen."(end) am.wsa KUNA 251159 Aug 11NNNN