Vice-President of the Syrian Coalition Samira al-Masalmah said that the Assad regime still has the same mindset after killing and maiming over a million Syrians, destroying the country at all levels, and forcing half of the population out of their homes.
In response to remarks made by Bashar al-Assad during interviews with the Russian RIA Novosti and Sputnik newspapers on Wednesday, Masalmah said that Assad unashamedly denied responsibility for the emergence of terror in Syria and for the displacement of millions of Syrians.
Masalmah expressed astonishment at remarks made by Assad on the living conditions and poverty experienced by the Syrians, stressing that Assad’s policies are behind the collapse of the Syrian pound which is currently traded at 500 SYP for one US dollar.
Responding to Assad’s remarks that he will lean primarily on Russia, China and Iran in rebuilding the country, Masalmah said that Assad ironically would assign this task to the same sides that are complicit in the devastation of Syria. She added that Assad is making deluded promises in an attempt to cajole his allies into continuing their support for him.
Masalmah went on to say that it is not possible that a country or a reconstruction company will risk signing reconstruction contracts before the war ends, adding that the issue of reconstruction must be deferred until after the war has ended. Masalmah also said that Assad’s remarks are just a gimmick through which Assad is trying to convince his allies to keep up the support and to help him escape accountability for the crimes he committed against the Syrian people. (Source: The New Arab)
