''The Resistance against occupation is but the national duty; and the support for the Resistance is the legitimate and moral duty. Supporting the Resistance is but the honour in which we take pride. This never negates our firm desire for the realization of the Just and Comprehensive Peace on the basis of the return of the occupied territories, on top of which comes the occupied Syrian Golan. But the failure of negotiations in restoring the full rights means automatically the Resistance solutions as an alternative solution,'' said His Excellency President Bashar Al-Assad in a remarkable speech at today's Istanbul 25th Session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Countries' (COMCEC).

''We do not have to be deceived by what is being presented regarding the halting of settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territories, as a basis for the return to negotiations, as if all of the problem were to be only in the settlements; settlements halting is not in itself the objective; it is but no more than a phase or a step; what about the dismantling of the settlements rather than the halting; most importantly, what about ending the occupation; therefore, we have to keep the problem within its basic frame and its real reason; that is the Israeli occupation: ending the occupation would secure the halting and then the dismantling of the settlements, and not the opposite,'' underlined H.E. President Al-Assad.

''What has been taking place in Gaza is to remain deeply-rooted in our minds and imagination, as one of the worst war crimes witnessed by the modern history, in which the internationally banned weapons against civilians were used, in demonstration of the Israeli barbarity. The support for Gaza is through the direct lift of the siege to which it is exposed, and is through the securing of the basic life demands-for the Palestinians- by us urgently and collectively. Depending on others would never realize any of our objectives, as it has been proved through the international indifferent reaction, not to mention the recently negative dealing of some Western States with Goldstone Report, which exposed the crimes of Israel, and the bids to cover these crimes. Just solutions, once others decide them on our behalf, would never exist. No body would be concerned about our interests, or would safeguard our rights, when we neglect our rights. The surrender to deceptive promises is but to waste our position, rights and interests,'' added His Excellency President Al-Assad.

''The events have proved the statements of condemnation to be but the nothingness, if they were not to be accompanied by concrete steps, starting with the putting of pressure on Israel instead of flattering or rewarding it, and by continued support to the original inhabitants of Arabs in the face of the Israeli occupation; and with every means with no exception,'' said His Excellency President Al-Assad, lashing out at the Israeli sinister bids as to demolish the Aqsa Mosque, Judaize Jerusalem, amid its continued perpetrated massacres and infrastructure destruction for the creation of its pure Jewish State.

''We can never be transformed into producing States, if we are not to possess the necessary knowledge and science, as to create the invention, which forms the door for prosperity. Economic development can not only be achieved through joint ventures and trade exchange, with all due respect to their importance; but rather through Scientific Research, which is the base for the economies of the developed countries,'' asserted H.E. President Al-Assad calling for the elimination of every obstacle before investors, the adoption of a Businessman Card instead of entry visas, the more of investment protection and promotion agreements among OIC member States, supporting the joint scientific projects and the OIC Standing Committee for Scientific and Technical Cooperation (COMSTECH).

''As much as economy is linked to knowledge, as much as it is linked to politics; what does it worth to talk about prosperity before a Man who does not know security, and whose life is at permanent risk? And how would it be possible to achieve the prosperity in our region amid the hotbeds of explosions destroying every hope in near solutions, generating but pain and frustrations to our people. Our relations with the rest of the world countries can never replace the developed relations among us, giving us the more of immunity amid the increasing world competitions, and the ongoing bids to extend hegemony over the economic decisions of the developing countries, exerting pressure on the developing countries as to keep them merely consuming unproductive countries, as the markets for   others' productions.'' concluded His Excellency President Bashar Al-Assad.

 

Edited & Translated by

Mohamad Abdo Al-Ibrahim

Rome, Italy, November 9, 2009.