Syria's president addressed Monday the situation in the country, but his words did not satisfy demonstrators who took to the streets even before he had finished speaking, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad gave a speech Monday, the third such address since nationwide demonstrations erupted in Syria three months ago. In the first, he spoke to parliament; in the second he gave "instructions" to the new cabinet. In this week's speech, Al-Assad reiterated that Syria was facing a "conspiracy" and that "saboteurs" are manipulating the people's grievances. Al-Assad said that the Syrian people want to participate in public life, do not want to be marginalised, and oppose foreign intervention. The president said he would ask the Ministry of Justice to expand the decree of clemency, which barely included any political prisoners. He emphasised that fanatical doctrine is playing a role in the crisis, and that some protesters are carrying arms and using them. Al-Assad criticised corruption and promised to bring the corrupt to justice, describing his meetings with delegations of citizens over the past month as a "national dialogue". He repeated that the mission of the dialogue committee he formed is to closely examine draft laws pertaining to reform, prepare for dialogue and decide a timeline for dialogue. Al-Assad spoke positively about the accomplishments of the government in terms of repealing emergency law, issuing a law permitting protests, forming a committee to draft a new election law and another to draft a media law. There is also a project to fight corruption and grant the Kurds citizenship, as well as a committee to study the political parties law. Al-Assad said that the regime believes in the reform process, adding that the constitution needs to be completely overhauled. He noted that the new parliament, to be elected before August, would begin studying how to amend the Syrian constitution. Al-Assad warned that the economy could collapse if the government does not address it immediately, and that the government would hold accountable anyone responsible for spilling blood. He also promised clemency for protesters, including those who carried weapons but did not use them, if they surrender, and called on expatriates to return. At the end of his speech, Al-Assad said that there are no comprehensive solutions, but "we will try to carry out political, economic and services reform," and that saboteurs will not be dealt with through political solutions but security ones. He hoped that the army would soon return to its barracks and the security forces to their offices. As soon as Al-Assad's speech was over, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in several Syrians cities to express their anger and rejection of the president's speech, demanding the overthrow of the regime. Several opposition blocs called for a meeting Monday evening to discuss the president's speech, its future vision, and whether it will be enough to resolve the Syrian crisis. The opposition, some independent forces and intellectuals agreed that the reforms proposed by the president were assigned to bureaucratic and administrative committees that could not understand the problem except from the perspective of the regime, or an administrative outlook. Second, dialogue cannot take place without the armed forces withdrawing from Syrian cities, violent security solutions being rejected, and serious steps towards a political resolution being taken. Third, the president did not specify timelines for the start or end of the work of his committees, or for arriving at real reform, leaving it open. The opposition Damascus Declaration for National Democratic Change bloc, which includes six political parties, stated that Al-Assad's speech was "late as usual" and "also worrisome" because it "indicates continued confrontation with the people". It also "indicates that the old ways of the regime of removing any meaning from the slogans of the people will continue, [while] sponsoring a national dialogue and conference tailored to its preferences". The bloc stated that there are "political forces and large sectors that will only accept transformation from oppression to democracy," and that "the representatives of the uprising are the foundation after 25 March, and anyone who ignores them is being unjust to them and the legacy of the country." The Syrian opposition continues to demand that Al-Assad's speech should at minimum include immediate decisions to stop a further deterioration of conditions, including an admission of the existence of a national crisis that requires political dialogue, declaring the withdrawal of army and police forces from cities, a call for a general national dialogue to include opposition political forces and parties, professional unions, and all viable forces in society to discuss this crisis from all aspects and to arrive at a new social contract expressed in a new constitution. This dialogue should also outline the features of a new Syria and establish a plural representative rotational democratic regime. Opposition forces also demand the repeal of Decree 59, which allows for the execution of anyone belonging to the banned Muslim Brotherhood in Syria. Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that Al-Assad's speech was more an evaluation of the situation in Syria, adding that he had hoped that the Syrian president would have used more specific and clear phrases and wording, such as that Syria would transform into a multiparty system through free and transparent elections overseen by international observers, and that violence in dealing with demonstrations would completely stop. Commenting on Al-Assad's speech, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said that the Syrian president "has reached the point of no return" and that "there is no reason to take him seriously today". Juppe said that Al-Assad could not change after the "horrifyingly violent" suppression of his people. Juppe's German counterpart Guido Westerwelle responded to the address by saying that it was the speech of someone who is "hopeless and apparently cannot read the writing on the wall". Westerwelle added that "it is critical now for Al-Assad's regime to do a complete turnaround and return to dialogue." The Syrian media meanwhile published the opinions of regime supporters who asserted that Al-Assad "proposed a strategic plan for the future to make Syria a model of construction and development". They said that his speech "reflected his keenness on national unity and stability, and was responsive to the demands of the people". The regime attempted to support the president's position by organising pro-regime marches comprising of tens of thousands of government employees, members of the Baath Party, university students, workers and others. What is certain is that Syria is facing a serious crisis -- unprecedented since Al-Assad inherited power 11 years ago. Syrians have taken to the streets in several Syrian governorates to demand freedom, democracy, an end to police interference in public life, and a multiparty rotational democratic system. Authorities responded by approving reform plans without consulting the opposition or representatives of the protesters, which only resulted in more demonstrations that have so far killed more than 1,600 civilians and an unknown number among the military, according to human rights monitors. Authorities claimed that those killed among the military were shot by armed terrorist groups and Salafis who infiltrated the demonstrations. Protesters deny these claims and assert that their actions are peaceful but that security forces are excessively violent. Some observers believe that the Syrian regime has decided to continue its policies and will continue to suppress popular movements using force and live ammunition. Also, that it will carry out reforms only according to its whims. Meanwhile, the opposition asserts that the uprising will continue and that street protests will not subside until root level changes in the regime and its policies occur.
