Hosein Amir Abdollahian: “Assad will remain Syria’s President”

Interview by Der Spiegel

A journalist from Der Spiegel, Suzanna Kolbl, interviewed the deputy foreign minister of Iran Hossein Amir Abdollahian in Tehran; he is responsible for contacts with the Syrian government. Vestnik Kavkaza presents a translation of the interview.

-          After a diplomatic quarrel, your government didn’t go to the conference on Syria. What is the Iranian goal in Syria?

-          We Iranians believe that there can be no military settlement of the conflict, and a democratic way is necessary; and it should end with elections.

-          You mean elections with the participation of the assumed military criminal Bashar Assad, which will legitimize him as president?

-          If President Assad intends to take part in the election campaign, he will win the elctions. Of course he won’t get 90%, but for sure he will gain 50-60%. We conducted a survey on the matter.

-          Can the elections be fair and free, when more than four million Syrians are refugees in their own country and more than two million people found refuge abroad?

-          It can be organized, if all countries really want it. Support of terrorist groups must be stopped, and international terrorists have to leave the country. After this, it would be sufficiently safe in Syria to hold elections in the country.

-          Various groups are fighting in Syria, and they won’t stop it at the single word of command. And who will stop bombing by the Syrian army, which leads to the greatest number of casualties among peaceful population?

-          If terrorists and arms stop coming to the country, the army will have no reasons for bombing. And an atmosphere could be established, when citizens were ready for elections. After this the government and opposition would have to start a dialogue.

-          Please, state a name of a Syrian opposition representative who is ready to negotiate with the permanent dictator who is responsible for 130,000 deaths.

-          Syria like all other Arab countries needs reforms. The government should find a right decision.

-          If there is a chance to start all over again, do the Syrian deserve a political leader whose hands are blood-stained?

-          Why do you want to overthrow Assad so eagerly? If people don’t want him, he will never be elected. We should respect the Syrians’ will. Remember that Assad was efficient in the struggle against terrorists. He is Syrian President, and it seems he will remain it.

-          Due to the support of Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah.

-          Who will replace Assad, if tomorrow he resigns? I’ll tell you – the Al-Nusra Front. Welcome to the Syrian reality! We are highly concerned about stability at the regional and global levels. Syria is a new base for al Qaeda. The ideological fighters are equipped with the best arms and communication gadgets. They can strike in any corner of the world.

-          It seems you have forgotten about Syrians who are not fanatical fighters, but people who demanded their legal rights and were bombed by Assad’s regime.

-          I had an opportunity to talk to top officers and officials of Syria. The so-called revolution which started 33 months ago in Daraa was initiated by individuals who were hired by a foreign intelligence service. Unlike Tunisia, Egypt, or Yemen, it wasn’t a revolution which drew to a head inside the country.

-          What intelligence service do you mean?

-          … a task of the agents was to start a riot and overthrow Bashar Assad’s government. It was Friday and two agents began to shoot at praying people from minarets and they killed a lot of prayers. A part of young people believed that a revolution started and joint protests. The same intelligence service provided protesting people with arms later. That was the beginning.

-          You believe in a story which is absolutely different from a story in which the rest of the world believes. The world thinks that the Daraa events started when few children wrote anti-government mottos on walls, and then they were arrested and tortured.

-          The previously mentioned agents know exactly how it has started.

-          How does Iran support Syria in the war?

-          We don’t send arms, but our advisors come to Syria and help in the struggle against terrorists. Moreover, we provide humanitarian aid. We have already spent $1.4 billion for this, even though we are under sanctions.

-          What must happen for you to sacrifice Assad for more important goals?

-          We Iranians support strategic ties with Damascus. Syria is important in the conflict which is stirred up by certain countries. Israel is a serious regional threat, as its behavior makes us not trust it. Therefore, Syria is an irreplaceable partner for us.