James Abu Rezk: Syria is in good hands with leadership of President Bashar al-Assad"
Syria, Politics, 4/14/2001

" President Bashar al-Assad is very intelligent man, and very open. And I think Syria is in good hands with President Bashar al-Assad," said former US Senator and founder of the Arab- Anti Discrimination Committee Mr James Abu Rezk in a statement to Arabic News.

He added that during his meeting with President al-Assad during his recent visit to Damascus:" we discussed many issues of concern to the region over which President al-Assad showed great understanding."

"I do not interfere in Syria's internal affairs, but I like what President Bashar al-Assad has done so far. The Internet and the introduction of technology which are very important for the country," Abu Rezk said, adding that it seems that President Bashar al-Assad will be strong as his father to insist that Israel behaves itself and is still aggressive. He continued that it seems that Syria is the only Arab country still to persist Israel's schemes.

He said that many Arab- Americans in the USA and some non- Arab Americans admire President Bashar for standing strong against Israel.

On the founding and activities of the Arab Anti- Discrimination Committee (ADC) Abu Rezk said: " I started the committee in the 1980 s, when FBI agents were dressed like Arab Sheikhs and they went to congressmen and senators and said: " we pay you money if you give us immigration to the USA, and they had a hidden video camera ." He explained that six or seven congress members accepted the bribe. So somebody asked why did you chose an Arab, and they said because we want people to believe that the Arabs are corrupted. He continued that this incident made all the Arab- Americans angry. Everybody calls on me to do something and as I left the Senate one year before, I decided to start a committee to fight against such kind of discrimination.

He added, we started in 1980, raising money and organizing Arab Americans around the USA. I never received any payment from the ADC. I was a volunteer for 15 years and finally in 1995 I resigned as a chairman because I was too busy practicing law.

On the purpose of the ADC, Abu Rezk added the purpose of the committee is to combat discrimination against Arab people in America or anywhere; and to inform the American people about the truth about the Middle Eeast and to combat the Israeli lobby.

On the biased policy pursued by successive US administration to Israel, Mr Abu Rezk said: "The Israelis give money to both the Republicans and the Democrats. In the States if you give the money they will be on your side ," adding that most people in the US do not pay attention to the Middle East, and it is the politicians who do, because they get money from the Israeli lobby.

On the role of the role played by the Arab community in the United States, Abu Rezk said it is very difficult to organize the Arab community in the US, because this requires lots of money and also because not every Arab- American is interested in the Middle East. He explained that many of the old emigrants do not have interest in that because they are afraid that their business will be damaged if they are politically active.

On his memoir with the late President Hafez al-Assad, Abu Rezk said:" the first time we met was in 1973 in the late President's office. The lights went off. We sat on the dark. I said what is wrong and he said the Israelis bombed the power station ." And since then I would come to Syria I see President al-Assad and discuss with him issues in the region. We became friends. And when I married my wife who is a Syrian from al-Safsafeh village on the Syrian coast, I found that my wife's father is a friend to President Hafez al-Assad. He said that for most of the Americans the late President Hafez al-Assad was smart but still as viewed by the Israeli- biased media Israel's enemy.

Replying to a question on that occupied Jerusalem has been bargained during the American election campaigns to win the Jewish voted Mr. Abu Rezk said that transferring the American embassy to Jerusalem is a campaign issue for the politicians to get the Israeli lobby on their side.

On his impression about Syria, Abu Rezk said" I like Syria very much. I come to Syria every year to see my wife's " Deeb" family in al-Safsafeh. Muhammad Ali Deeb, my father in law, is a very prominent official in al-Safsafeh. Also I have four cousins in Damascus. Abu Rezk is married and has four children. He has a secondary school degree in civil engineering and a Jury doctor.

Previous Stories:
  Lahham reviews the Pope's visit program to Syria   (4/12/2001)
  Bin Ali, al-Assad hold talks on Arab issues   (4/12/2001)
  Syrian information minister confers with Lebanese culture minister   (4/12/2001)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search