Assad: Syria’s War Will Only End after Eradicating Terrorism

By Staff, Agencies

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad praised the Islamic Republic of Iran's unwavering support for the Arab country’s fight against enemies' plots to fuel insecurity and instability in Syria and the entire region, saying the war will end only through the eradication of terrorism.

Assad made the remarks in a meeting with an Iranian parliamentary delegation, headed by Chairman of the Parliament's Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Mojtaba Zonnouri, in Damascus on Thursday.

"They are trying to pretend that it is possible to end the war through the constitutional committee. It is not true," he said.

"The war did not break out because of differences over the constitution, but it started when terrorism began to kill and destroy," the Syrian president added, emphasizing that eradication of terrorism is the only thing that can terminate the war.

Representatives of the Syrian government and opposition met earlier this month to discuss a future constitution, part of plans for a political settlement to end eight and a half years of war.

The members of the constitutional committee, which took almost two years of consultations to be formed, are tasked with reforming the Arab country's constitution before it is put to the vote of the Syrian people.

Speaking at a news conference at the end of the first round of the constitutional committee on November 8, United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said reforming the country's constitution is the first step toward the beginning of a political process that will lead to UN-supervised elections under UN Resolution 2254.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Assad emphasized that the resistance front's commitment to unchangeable principles is one of the most important factors behind its power in the campaign against terrorism.

"The fight waged by us and our friends against the excessive demands of the West and colonialist countries will continue until the annihilation of their mercenaries," he added.