Syria Bid Farewell her Builder

Damascus 13-6-2000

Shrouded in black, the orphan non-sleeping sobbing country laid her builder late President, Hafez Assad, to rest at his birthplace in Al- Qirdaha Tuesday.

Following a two-hour solemn coffin procession among Damascus streets amid the crowds of the tens of the thousands of the stunned Syrians, Arabs, and foreigners, the President casket was moved to the Palace of People in Damascus where it was laid for the visitors to pay respect to the late hero, who has transformed his country into a modern civilized oasis.

Hundreds of mourners thronged, tens of them fainted and collapsed, to catch a glimpse of the black- draped coffin, in which their ever- living guru rests, shouting

"God is the Greatest"

"Bashar is the hope of the Nation''

'' We save our blood and soul to Bashar.''

Dr. Bashar, the hope of Syria Al-Assad, accepted the condolences of visiting dignitaries including Presidents, Premiers, Parliament Speakers and high ranking officials. Among the presidents are those of Yemen, the Sudan, Armenia, Lebanon, Egypt, Palestinian Authority, Iran, Jordan, Algeria, Turkey and Malta; Premiers and deputy premiers of Bangladesh, Spain, Portugal, Bahrain, Qatar, Ukraine, China, Somalia; Parliament Speakers of Austria, Yugoslavia, Mauritania, Morocco and Algeria, Russia, Belarussia, and Italy Foreign Ministers of Nigeria, Norway, Britain, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Canada, Japan, Belgium, Greece, the USA, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican and Finland, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands representatives of the Arab League UN, Tunisia, Chile, Afghanistan (President Rabani Government), Sri Lanka, Brunei, Cuprus, Ghana, Pakistan.

An Arab Palestinian delegation arrived earlier chaired by Dr. Azmi Bshara.

Meantime, Lieutenant-General and Commander in Chief, Dr. Bashar Hafez Al-Assad, received tens of thousands of Condolence cables on the demise of the Father of the Nation.

Dr. Bashar accepted the condolences at "People Palace" in Damascus Tuesday from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. before the President Coffin was flown to his birthplace at Al-Qirdaha, 200 kilometre northeast of the capital. The President's Casket was far welled by the million of Syrians, most of them never blinked on vigil stunned at the Ummayad Square from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. President Assad's coffin was later on laid to rest in his birthplace cemetery. There Bashar and his Family members received condolences.

Lebanon Grieves Syria’s leader death

Beirut, 13/6 /2000

The Lebanese capital on Tuesday plunged into deep sadness on the day of President Hafez Assad burial in his birthplace Qirdaha on the Syrian coast.

Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese kept staying before TV sets to follow up the funeral details and paying respect on him form the world leaders and the Syrian people.

Streets were emptied but from cars carrying black-flags and photos for the late President and Dr. Bashar Assad.

Minarets recited Koran verses while churches bells rang in a gesture of sadness on the late president.

The great departed /Farewell Ceremonies

Damascus 13/6/2000

Arrangements for President Hafez Assad's funeral due on Tuesday 13th June started here on Sunday.

The funeral will start at eight o'clock where the coffin will be transferred on hands from President Assad's house where he spent the last three decades to the Ummayad square in Damascus. At Ummayad square a big public farewell will take place where the masses will express their love and deep sadness over the great leader who exchanged with them through his life love and loyalty. The coffin will be hold on a cannon wagon covered with the Syrian flag and accompanied by various kinds of weapons. From Ommayad square the procession will pass Maza street and will reach Maza airport at 11 o'clock,after that the body of his excellency will be transfered by a special plane to the airport of Martyr Basel Assad in Latakia.

The great late will arrive to Nae'sa mosque in Qirdaha at 3,00 p.m. were the body will be layed out so that quests from Arab and friendly countries and the nation's sons could pay the last farewell look at this great leader. After the after noon and the funeral prayers, the great late leader President Hafez Assad will be buried at the the family tomb.

Dr. Bashar Assad, his brothers and the party's leadership in addition to the Progressive National front will receive condolences.

President Assad’s body moved to his birthplace on the Syrian coast

Damascus, 13/6 /2000

After General Commander of the Army and the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Bashar al-Assad received condolences from Arab and Foreign Leaders who arrived in Damascus to bid farewell to the late President Hafez Assad ; the body of the deceased President was carried by hands and put on a cannon van heading to the airport.

The procession moved to al-Mazzah airport near Damascus where crowds gathered to pay farewell to the leader who became a symbol of struggle in Syria.

At the airport, the body was carried again by hands of senior officers of the armed forces while shroud with the Syrian flag. Then the body transferred to the airport while music played the martyr and the last farewell from a the armed forces band that represented various kinds of the army. Dr. Basher was accompanied the body as well the Late President family members.

President Assad’s body arrives to Birthplace

Qirdaha, 13/6 /2000

The airplane carrying the body of the late President Hafez al-Assad this afternoon touched down at Hmaymim airport and Dr. Bashar Assad accompanied the coffin.

Senior army officers carried the coffin and loaded later onto a gun carriage while a group of officers paid him military respect.

The procession launched among crowds of gathered Syrians of the Lattakia region as well as the near by towns and villages. They insisted on accompanying the body to his last place.

Along the road leading to Qirdaha , hundreds of persons chanted ‘’ there is no God but Allah and the martyrs are our condolence … We scarifies our blood and soul for you Bashar.’

Bouti / Word

Qirdaha 15/6/ 2000

The Syrian people learned from their great late leader wisdom, highness, peace and not to abandon their rights,Sheikh Saed Al-Bouti said here on Wednesday in a word before lieutenant general Dr. Bashar Assad and members of the regional and national leaderships.

" Responsibilities are heavy but God will help you. I congratulate the Syria people that they will not transfer from this umbrella into a burning sun but will remain within shady shadows," Bouti concluded.

UN Secretary General / Condolences

New York 15/6/ 2000

UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, on Thursday praised the great late president Hafez Assad's principled stands and cooperation with the international organizations.

" President Assad was for thirty years a partner of big value for the UN and presented an example of Syria's firm leadership," Annan added in a word in the book of condolences at the headquarters of Syria's permanent delegation to New York.

He added that construction on the legacy of the late President would be a great challenge for all of us. Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Assistants, Ambassadors of the accredited countries at the international Organization, religious and political figures and representatives of the Arab commissions in New York and New Jersey expressed their deep sorrow for the demise of the big leader.

In words, they highly evaluated the big role of the late President in opening the door of the just and comprehensive peace and his unlimited defending for the land sovereignty and the people's rights.

They also praised the late president's wisdom, commitment to the international legitimacy and to the goals of the UN Charter as a basis to solve the Middle East cause and to restore the Syrian and Arabs rights.

Mourning of President Assad's Untimely Passing Continued

Qirdaha 16/6 /2000

Thousands of mourners flocked to President Assad's burial place in his hometown, Qirdaha, Friday offering their heart-felt condolences reciting verses of the Holy Koran and the Bible praying for the rest of the soul of their guru.

Delegations from all over the country's 14 governorates, Lebanon, Arab and friendly countries gathered since the early morning nearby the president tomb hoisting placards on which expressions of sorrow and grief were written amid sharp cries of loyalty to the Son of Modern Syria builder, Lieutenant Colonel Bashar Hafez Al-Assad.

Lieutenant General Bashar is highly considered by all Syrians as " The Nation Future Hope'' and as one of the late President '' Greatest legacies'' to continue the march of modernization, prosperity and welfare initiated by the late father, who was able to transform Syria from coups-plagued country into an oasis of progress and prosperity on the way just and comprehensive peace.

Bashar has been for the fourth day running standing to accept the condolences of the millions of people from all ranks and places. He showed strength, manhood, and restraint facing the untimely death of his father, indeed the father of the nation. Bashar's steadfastness reminds mourners of President Assad's 1994 offered condolences to the Syrians from the airplane which carried martyr Bassel Al- Assad's body to Qirdaha.

Dr. Bashar received Friday the Lebanese Minister of Agriculture, Suleiman Franjiah, who offered condolences to His Excellency.

Lebanon, leadership and people, was saddened by the sudden demise of President Assad, who was the dynamic force and mastermind behind halting civil strives in lebanon. President Assad's unwavering support to Lebanon compelled Israel to withdraw its occupation forces from South Lebanon, just days before Assad's Soul flies back to her Creator in Heavens.

A group of Hizbollah fighters paraded by the president tomb in recognition for his support to their legitimate resistance against occupiers.

Hizbollah Leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasserallah, was among the mourners who offered condolences to Lieutenant General Bashar Hafez Assad.

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, who was the last person to speak with the president by phone, recalled Assad's final words as ''It has been our fate to inherit our coming generations the best''.

President Assad has tirelessly worked for the realization of just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East on the related UNSC resolutions and the principle of Land-for-Peace. Not to mention the unbearable pressures, Assad was able to survive uncompromisingly navigating the ship to the safety shores.

True was what President Assad said .The nation has now unlimited resources of treasures of which the most valuable is Assad's Bashar, largely considered by all accounts as the man of the coming stage illuminated by the ever glittering stars of the late Assad.

"With Blood and Sould, we defend you Bashar'' has been the sharp cry uttered by all Syrians since the demise of the great builder''.

Thousands of condolence cables poured into the late president family members namely to Lieutenant General Bashar, Engineer Major Maher, Mr. Majid, Dr. Boushra and to Syria's first Lady. The cables carried feelings of grief and deep sorrow over the president's departure and prayers to the rest of his soul.

The Baa'th Arab Socialist Party leadership was rained by similar condolence cables.

World Leaders, officials and mass media means continued to speak of the tragic demise of the President asserting that the President demise is a loose not only for Syria, Arab and Islamic world but for the world at large.

A detailed narration of the late president accomplishments and sublime traits was given. Words, however, can never denote or indicate Assad's long life of national struggle and sacrifice.

Tents for mourners were erected all over the country to receive condolences. These tents have been full since the shocking news last Saturday where the Syrians to the voice of Koranic Verses observed eulogies and prayers to the passing leader rest. Syrian Embassies all over the world continued to receive condolences on the demise of Syria's ever greatest leader.

Personalities /President Hafez Assad's death

Capitals 17/6/ 2000

Arab and International personalities continued to express sorrow and grief at the demise of President Hafez Assad and they expressed wide hopes over Dr. Bashar Al-Assad's leadership to modern Syria at the upcoming period.

In Amman, vocational, public and women figures unanimously said the death of President Hafez Assad constituted a big calamity for Syria and the entire Arabs.

The figures added that President Assad was the Arabic leader who confronted the biggest attack against the Arab nation amid the last thirty years and proved that he was the firm man and the difficult number in this nation.

They expressed satisfaction at lieutenant general Dr. Bashar's upcoming role and hoped that he will continue the march as to realize the goals of the late president.

Interviewed by 'Al-Rai' Jordanian daily, Russian Ambassador to Amman Alexander Ivanov underscored Russia's keenness to strengthen historical relations with Syria .He added that Dr. Bashar is a national personality and the Syrian people love and support him.

Ex-Jordanian ambassador, lawyer Jawdet Al-Mheisen, for his part, said: 'I'm sure that lieutenant general Dr. Bashar Assad will protect the big legacy left by the great late president.'

In Moscow deputy in the Russian Duma council and member of the Parliamentary committee for foreign affairs, Alexander Shabanov said the

demise of the prominent leader is not only a loss for Syria and the Arab world but also for Russia and the entire world.

Shabanov said we trust and hope that lieutenant general Dr. Bashar Assad will follow up and develop the traditional friendship relations between Syria and Russia that were established by his late father.

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