Syria confirms readiness for military option
Syria, Military, 8/6/1998

Under the patronage of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, who is also the general commander of the Syrian army and armed forces, a celebration was held on Wednesday marking the graduation of a new training course of the officers of "al-Assad" academy for military engineering.

Chief of staff of the Syrian armed forces Lieutenant General Ali Aslan represented the Syrian president. In a speech, Aslan talked about the political situation in the region, stressing the necessity of defending Arab states' national issues. He indicated Syria's firm and principled stances in favor of achieving a just and comprehensive peace. He also indicated that the Israeli government does not abide by international resolutions and opposes peace.

Map quoted Lieutenant General Aslan as saying, "Circusmtances compel us to maintain a maximum combat readiness in order to face expansionist schemes of the enemy which plots to impose hegemony on the region," in an address to the graduation ceremony.

Aslan said that Israel's policy of intransigence and recurring violations of international norms would prompt Syria to intensify preparations to face any aggression and pursue the struggle for its rights.

The Syrian overture about its readiness for a military confrontation coincided with a prevailing gloomy atmosphere in the region resulting from the hardline stance of the Israeli Government.

Syria, which had engaged in at least two major wars with Israel, agreed to join in the Middle East peace process which started in 1991 on the basis of trading peace for land. But the Israelis have shown no willingness to withdraw from Arab Territories, including the Golan Heights.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian army chief of staff: Syria is always ready to confront the enemy   (7/30/1998)
  Two British ships visit Syria for the first time since 1948   (7/2/1998)

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

Search