Syria cooperation with UN investigation has concern for national interest
The American accusation and the French threats to Syria, have come despite al-Assad's commitment in a speech before the students of Damascus university to collaborate with the UN investigation committee to the murder of al-Hariri, but the Syrian President stressed his country's cooperation with the UN investigation does not mean it will sacrifice its national interest in the context of this cooperation.
Al-Assad added that the President will not be the one who bends his head or the head of his people. He ruled out that full cooperation with the UN investigation committee will be conducive to lifting pressures off Syria.
The President said in his address to the people that "our principle was and still confirm in positively treating with the international organizations and its decisions as well as with the international investigation committee out of confidence in ourselves and our innocence of all accusations...it is our solid interest that investigations reach their aims."
President al-Assad stressed that Syria and Lebanon live side by side as a historical fact, adding that the strength of each party is strength for the other and vise versa vice. He said this fact requires common ground for joint living away from illusions and negativity.
He considered that his country is always targeted, and that the mission of the UN is part of a vaster international game to pressure Damascus to subjugate it.
The Syrian president criticized the report of the chairman of the UN investigation committee, considering that behind it are political motives. Al-Assad also stressed that Mehlis refused an invitation from the Syrian special judicial committee to visit Damascus and draw a new memorandum of understanding to define mechanism for cooperation. Al-Assad stressed the need of legal basics in order to protect the rights of the witnesses and the accused alike, rejecting categorically to make the investigation without a legal bases.
He also stressed that the UN committee rejected a Syrian proposal to that the investigation will take place with the Syrian security officials at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo or on Syrian land in a site where the UN flag is hoisted.