Talab al-Saniaa in Damascus

A leading member of the Arab Democratic Party described the recent speech by President Bashar al-Assad as comprehensive and clear in which he talked frankly about the challenges and the mechanism to overcome these challenges by having the public participate in decision making.

Talab al-Saniaa, Arab Palestinian member in theÊ Israeli Knesset, who is visiting Syria, told a news conference overnight that the threats and pressures targeting Syria are designed to kill its national and pan-Arab stances and principles, and have nothing to do with the assassination of former Lebanese Premier Rafiq al-Hariri.

He called for not turning the UN Security Council into a means for legalizing the use of force to solve world problems rather than using this forum to keep world security and stability as stated by the UN Charter.

Saniaa said the US, by its pro-Israeli polices and adoption of force rather than logic and right, is behind instability in the Middle East. He said the region is in need of peace initiatives not new military adventures.

The news conference was attended by members of the People's Assembly, Mohammad Habash and Hanin Numr.