The U.S. will soon lose all influence in the Middle East, and Russia and China will take their place, the Grand Mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic (UAR), Ahmad Badr al-Din Hasun, says.
"Americans only think about themselves, their economy and hegemony, and not about human interests ... I think that the Americans will soon lose this region (Middle East). And China and Russia will win," he says,according to RIA Novosti.
"The U.S. want to open their umbrella over the region. They want to destroy our country and the region as a whole, to intern it in order to make it an area of investment. But we will not surrender," Hasun states.
According to him, the United States is dictating their terms to Syria. "President Bush said:" Whoever is not with us is against us." That is, they dictate their own terms and want to drive out all dissidents. But God gave humans the right to choose. Right or wrong - that's
another matter ... But you cannot dictate. You have no right to dictate even to your son what he must eat," he says.
Hasun noted that the Syrian clergy support dialogue and reforms in the country.
"Struggle and war would weaken us. Between the churches and mosques in Syria, there is no struggle. We have a clash between patriotic and destructive forces. And our people are united, and we will decide for ourselves how we should live," he says.
"Our people want to reform the country, and we, the clergy, support them. We are against corruption, against dictatorship," he adds.
Unrest in Syria has not stopped since March 2011. There are daily reports of deaths, including those of civilians. According to UN figures, the total number of victims exceeded 7500 people.
