“The Arab nation accommodated itself to this new abnormal situation, and what should have been a state of emergency became the normal state of affairs to the extent that any talk about Arab nationalism or Arab solidarity seems at least to some to be romantic or a waste of time. Some even started to shed doubt on Arab common interests. Despite this deteriorating state of relations among Arab countries which might prompt some to be pessimistic and others to be frustrated we should not surrender to the feeling of utter hopelessness to achieve any breakthrough in this regard. We should neither surrender to this current reality nor be satisfied with it.”
From HE’s 2000 Inauguration Speech
“There has to be and healing initiatives that do not rely on the logic of gain and loss at the country level but at the national level. They should depend on the goal of collective gain that will make individual gain more certain. Such initiatives should also depend on the logic of national dignity and Arab values and ethics. In this regard we look forward to a more effective role played by the Arab League to achieve this particular goal.”
From HE’s 2000 Inauguration Speech
“ We, in Syria, shall stay as we have always been, supportive of any solidarity step that might serve the higher interest of the Arab nation, particularly steps that might lead to the consolidation of points of agreement among Arab countries in a way that undermines points of difference and division and paves the way for a reasonable level of productive relations among these countries at a first stage in order to prepare for a better future for these countries at later stages. We have to do that fast because the new international situation gives the position to the stronger party. This is the fact that prompted many countries to establish different regional alliances in order to be stronger in facing international challenges and to gain an extra margin in their maneuvers. We who possess greater factors to establish a coherent unit are called upon more than any one else in the world to pursue such a project of regional unity. “
From HE’s 2000 Inauguration Speech
“All Gulf states know that we have not changed our position. There is coordination between those states and us. .. We always stress that we don’t want to win a country to lose another… This is one of the basic principles in the Syrian policy which has been based on strengthening Arab solidarity … Strong relations between the peoples of Syria and Iraq – despite the long severance - give some kind of specialty to the relations between the two countries… This is also applied to the relations with Jordan,"
From HE’s Interview with al-Sharq al-Wsat daily
“In brief, you were the beating heart of Arabism with every sense of the word regarding the heat that will rise and the meaning which will be more powerful when we liberate the Golan by our hands, will and determination. The destiny of Syria is to be proud of Arabism and to defend and maintain it because it is the only base for a bright and honorable future we build for our children. We have to implant in our hearts and minds that there is no place in this world but for the strong. Strength starts by the power of mind, will and faith and this is the base of resistance and the only way to achieve victory. However, waiting for others to solve our problems, keeping faith in the international community as an alternative to the faith in our abilities, and yielding our mentality to fear and our will to others, is not only the adverse of wisdom but absolute ignorance. “
From HE’s Speech before the Journalists 4th Conference