Syria Accuses Clinton of 'Incitement'
Syria on Tuesday accused U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of "incitement" after she said President Bashar Assad has lost legitimacy and the right to remain in power.
"Syria vigorously condemns the remarks of the U.S. secretary of state that amount to further proof of the flagrant interference of the United States in the internal affairs of Syria," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
"These remarks are an act of incitement aimed at continuing the internal crisis and for objectives which do not serve the interests of the Syrian people or their legitimate ambitions," it said.
Clinton said on Monday, after the French and US embassies in Damascus were targeted in angry pro-regime demonstrations, that Assad had "lost legitimacy," four months into a deadly revolt against his regime.
"President Assad is not indispensable and we have absolutely nothing invested in him ... remaining in power," the secretary of state said. "From our perspective, he has lost legitimacy.
Syria's foreign ministry stressed that ties were now in crisis.
"The political leadership (of Syria) does not draw its legitimacy from the United States but solely from the will of the Syrian people who express their support and backing each day for the leadership" and its proposed reforms, it said.
"Relations between countries are based on the principle of non-interference," the ministry said.
Syria expects the United States "to respect this principle and abstain from behavior that is liable to provoke the sentiments of Syrians and their attachment to their national independence."
12 July 2011, 14:38
10
They are right, regardless of wether we support the assad regime or not, it is not up to Clinton to decide that Asad is not indispensable and that his regime has lost legitimacy.. it is up to the syrian people to decide, and that is it.
12 July 2011, 14:49
04
Another one bites the dust. and another one, and another one, and another one bytes the dust!
Words of wisdom Clinton, what took you so long?
Down you go my little bashar, the choke is on, I can see you soon tapping on the canvas.
The head of the snake is being chopped guys!
12 July 2011, 15:06
03
So what are you going to do Assad, indict her? Try her in your non-politicized court system? What a joke.
After years of meddling in Lebanese sovereign affairs, saying who is legitimate and who is now, how does it feel now to be on the receiving end of such meddling?
If indeed, as the spokesman said, the legitimacy of the regime in Syria comes from the Syrian people, then the spokesperson for Assad as proven Secretary Clinton's point. Assad and his regime have lost its legitmacy. The people do not believe its lies anymore.
This is a regime flailing away at any and everything at random. The first rule of those in power is to never issue an order or a statement that you are not prepared to enforce. If you tell someone to go to hell, you'd better have the power and the will to send them there.
This is a wild statement made by a regime that is going down the drain. Good riddance. Hope they all get indicted.
12 July 2011, 15:35
01
"Relations between countries are based on the principle of non-interference," the ministry said.
I'm sorry.... what?.... really?....
12 July 2011, 17:24
01
well said Beiruti...
after 3 months of courageous uprising of the syrian people it s funny to hear syrians say the usa incites them!
the usa are starting to take position because they feel that the regime is collapsing otherwise they would have reacted much earlier if they were really inciting!
now they are just trying to place their interests elsewhere!
12 July 2011, 19:00
00
Finally some stronger statements from the US, also those claiming it's up to the Syrians to decide: is there a real election in Syria? No. How can they decide to change things when the army shoots them for protesting peacefully? If you think the majority of Syrians want to be controlled by a few thugs and murderers dominated by a small minority group then you have no logic.
But we need the Assad regime to continue their strong 'resistance', because they have done so much to fight for Palestinians rights and in defending Lebanon in 96 and 06 when Israel attacked, also they are fighting so hard for the Golan heights...
