Rally in Damascus mark 37th anniversary of March 8 revolution
Syria, Politics, 3/9/2000

Under the patronage of President Hafez al-Assad a large central rally was held in Damascus in celebration of the 37th anniversary of the March revolution (when the Baath Party assumed power in Syria on March 8, 1963). The president was represented by the assistant secretary general of the Baath Party (President Assad is the secretary), Abdullah al-Ahmar.

Speeches of the ruling Baath Party, the National Progressive Front represented by the secretary general of the Socialist Unionist Party, Fayez Ismael, and people's organizations represented by the secretary general of the teachers union were read.

In his speech, al-Ahmar said Syria's founding structure was built in all the economic, cultural, political and social fields and that Syria possessed a firm and solid base to build on in way that consolidates Syria's national role.

Al-Ahmar added, "Syria, under President al-Assad's leadership, will not cede an inch of the Arab lands and her strategic option of the just and comprehensive peace stresses that peace can not be attained unless the Syrian Golan is completely restored, and this right is non-negotiable because peace and occupation cannot go together."

He continued that, "The just and comprehensive peace will not be established also unless Israel withdraws its forces from south Lebanon in implementation of UN resolution 425 and unless the Palestinian people's legitimate rights are restored, especially their right to self determination, and build its independent state with Jerusalem as its capital."

On the latest statements made by French Premier Lionel Jospin in describing the Lebanese resistance operations as terrorism, al-Ahmar said, "Lionel Jospin's statement describing acts of resistance as 'terrorism' only serves the Israeli aggression and encroaches upon the balanced stand of France and its ties of friendship and cooperation with the Arab states."

He stressed the unity and common identity of the Syrian and Lebanese peace tracks, stressing the importance of consolidating pan-Arab solidarity with Lebanon and reaffirming the need to step up all out Arab steadfastness and confrontation against Israel and its all forms of challenges.

Previous Stories:
  On the Cabinet reshuffle in Syria   (3/1/2000)
  Syria celebrates 26th anniversary of October War   (10/6/1999)
  Al-Assad's address on the occasion of the Syrian Army Day   (8/2/1999)

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