The Unfinished Mission!
“My trust in you is infinite and so is my love to you.” Syria’s 16th President,
Bashar Assad, declared to his people on July 17, 2000.” ’’You may expect to see
him every where whether in the work place or on the streets or in your picnics
in order to learn from you and sharpen his determination by his contact with you
and shall work for you as he has always done. The man who has become a president
is the same man who was a doctor and an officer and first and foremost is the
citizen. “ In a very short span of time, President Assad has proved to be the
saviour, who cured many of economic, social and political epidemics. The
healer’s stitches in time saved many, if not all, from the looming threats and
sinister schemes! It is Syria’s start with the 21st century; thanks to the
builder of Syria’s 20th century, who handed us safely unhurt, to the man, in
whom every trust was put.
Economically, Assad’s “common strategy for development” was put, “a specific
framework for steps and measures” were taken in order to achieve the objectives
of such a strategy. Tens of laws were modified, and legislated, decrees issued
as to boost the president’s promised “ performance in the economic field” as to
“encourage export and to help find markets”. In light of President Assad’s
Inauguration speech, the government moved in “steady, though gradual, steps,
towards performing economic changes through the modernization of laws, the
erosion of bureaucratic obstacles standing in the way of internal and external
investment flow, the recruitment of both private and public capital, and the
activation of the private sector and granting it better opportunities to work.”
Some measures were taken as to “bring the public sector to a competitive level
in both domestic and external markets,” on the way leading to what Mr. President
wants: “ a balanced and comprehensive development in all provinces of the
country and in rural as well as urban areas.” And with the aim of realizing “a
fair distribution NGP in a balanced fashion, to the increase of job
opportunities and to the improvement of the livelihood of citizens in the light
of the increase of their lively needs and the constant increase in the cost of
living.” Salaries were increased, living conditions improved; yet the more of
generosity is still badly needed for before reaching to “ a wise economic policy
that bridges gaps between sources and expenditure, between export and the
rehabilitation of the private and public economic sectors to face the increasing
dangers resulting from the challenges of globalization and before “our economy
may well assume a respectable place in regional and international economic
blocs.”
Socially, it has been the development, an all-out one at every level, for every
citizen in the most remote places of this country. The president initiated his
four-legged bases for development suggesting “new ideas in all domains whether
in order to solve our current problems and difficulties”, renewing “old ideas
which are no longer appropriate to our reality with the possibility of
discarding outdated ideas”, improving old ideas and renewing them “in order to
be suitable to the current and future purposes. His Excellency started with
himself implementing ‘ measures of development; the first measure is the time
factor “which we should use to the utmost extent in order to achieve what we
aspire to achieve in the shortest time possible”; a daily hectic schedule with
18 hours of continued work and activities. Like father, like son; he is the son
of the late builder, whose famous motto was ‘’ my day is a day, night is a day
too’’. In all his moves and activities, one of President Assad’s main
preoccupation was the “public interest”. The public opinion of the majority was
reshaped and enlightened by President Assad’s called for: “constructive
criticism”, “ transparency”, “accountability”” democracy”, “democratic
thinking”, “law abiding”, “freedom”, “ woman rule‘’, planning’’, “spreading
education and knowledge and information technology”. Some of the minority fell ,
however, prey to their individual misinterpretations and suspicious agendas!
Many, if not all, of the wrong-doers were pardoned; prisons almost cleaned, even
some closed for good. No opportunist should be allowed to weaken the foundation
and the very basics of the formidable castle, which survived every hurricane!
“Our strenuous efforts to foster our domestic front are strengthened through our
relations with other countries especially our Arab brother countries at all
levels, and through activating the existing Arab economic conventions and the
continued efforts to establish a true nucleus for a joint Arab market.” The
aspired-to “ healthy Arab-Arab relations” was largely bolstered by President
Assad’s strenuous efforts for Arab solidarity, cooperation and integration. Many
Arabs every where do pin hopes on every move His Excellency takes. “ We consider
our relationship with Lebanon an example of a relationship that should exist
between two brotherly countries.” The President, whose father once responded
bravely to the cries of the bereaved as to end civil strife, has so far exerted,
as promised, “great efforts in order to be ideal and to achieve the joint
interests of both countries in a way that responds to the ambitions of both
countries.” “The liberation of our territory is at the top of our national
priorities and is as important to us as the achievement of a just and
comprehensive peace that we have adopted as our strategic choice, but not at the
expense of our territory nor at the expense of our sovereignty.” Unfortunately,
Sharon’s ongoing blitz and evil exploitation of Sept. terrorist acts have buried
peace. Hopefully, it wont take long before the other side would consider just
and comprehensive peace as the only way for achieving security, reform,
stability and modernization in the entire region. Once more the United States is
called upon as “to play its full role as an honest broker and a cosponsor of the
peace process. Pressure has to be exerted in order to implement the resolutions
of international legitimacy with all the legitimate rights they dictate for the
Lebanese, the Syrian and Palestinian people. “ “We look forward to building the
strongest relations with the states, peoples and international organizations on
the basis of mutual respect and constructive cooperation and the safeguarding of
international peace and security” president Assad has interwoven and cemented
Syria’s relations with almost every peace loving country worldwide. Yet, “the
policy of adhering to the principles of international legitimacy requires the
United Nations to carry out its mission as mentioned in its Charter in an
objective way and away from different points of influence that might limit the
implementation of these principles in the best way possible in order to reach a
world with no conflicts and no points of tension, a world where peace, justice
and democracy prevail among countries and in which dialogue is deepened and
broadened among different civilizations in the world of today.” “The result of
the referendum is an expression of the will of the people. I shall try my very
best to lead our country towards a future that fulfils the hopes and legitimate
ambitions of our people.”
BY
MOHAMAD ABDO AL-IBRAHIM
INTERVIEWS
SPEECHES DOMESTIC ISSUESNATIONAL ISSUESINTERNATIONAL ISSUESNEWS & ANALYSESPICTURES
HOME 
Back