Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday told the opening session of a
journalists conference that Israel's war on Lebanon was a "planned
aggression".
"The Israeli aggression against Lebanon was not connected with its kidnapped
soldiers (by Hezbollah), but had been prearranged for a period of time," Assad
said.
He said the resistance in Lebanon had achieved victory, adding the people's
support had helped the resistance achieve this victory.
"We choose peace as a strategic choice, but it does not mean we exclude other
choices and does not mean we have given up resistance," the president said.
"Resistance is a strong force to face the Israeli aggression which is
necessary to realize peace and restore rights," he added, dubbing resistance as
"a thought which will play an essential role in the future."
Assad, however, noted that resistance was "not necessarily an armed one", but
could also be embodied in different forms such as in the cultural and political
fields.
Meanwhile, the president claimed the failure of the Middle East peace
process, saying "the peace process has failed. It has failed since its
inception" and "we do not expect peace in the near future."
Assad blamed the current U.S. administration for the failure because it
"chooses war, not peace".
"For the peace process, the United State is necessary, but it should not be
this administration," he said.
Israel launched massive attacks in neighboring Lebanon on July 12 after two
soldiers was kidnapped by the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah movement in cross-border
raids.
A ceasefire brokered by the United Nations took effect on Monday after the
month-long war killed some 1,100 Lebanese people, mostly civilians, and about
156 Israelis.
Washington has repeatedly blamed Damascus, together with its ally Tehran, for
the bloodshed in Lebanon because of their support to Hezbollah.
"Responsibility for the suffering of the Lebanese people also lies with
Hezbollah's state sponsors, Iran and Syria," U.S. President George W. Bush said
in his latest accusation on Monday.
