Al-Assad's address on the occasion of the Syrian Army Day
On the occasion of the anniversary of the foundation of the Syrian army, which falls on August 1, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad gave an address through the Syrian magazine al-Jundi al-Arabi (Arab Soldier).
Al-Assad said the foundation of the Syrian army was an important part of the victory achieved by the "epic of independence and the evacuation of the colonialist forces from the territory of homeland."
He added, "Our army's progress and growth were great since the glorious March revolution of 1963 and the Correction Movement of 1970" which brought President al-Assad to power.
Al-Assad continued, saying, "What we are exerting in the field of defense is strongly connected with our fruitful efforts in the field of social and economic development. These efforts included services, industry and agriculture in all the country's provinces and developments at all levels of education and centers of culture and up to date sciences."
He added: "In Syria, we are builders of a powerful homeland, and advocates of real peace which brings good for us, for our nation and for the region. This peace conforms with the world aspirations, the world that seeks to see just and comprehensive peace prevailing in this region putting an end to aggression and occupation and provides a climate for security for all."
He added, "The people of live conscience in the world have witnessed our sincere bid to establish a just and comprehensive peace. If there was a real opportunity to achieve it, we were not responsible for missing it after all that efforts we have exerted in this way. We have taken stands which confirm our seriousness in working to realize a just and comprehensive peace. We, in this bid keep on our patriotic and national firm stands which are based on right and justice and on international legitimacy. We wait for the others to exchange with us a faithful wish to establish a just and comprehensive peace, through the return of the usurped rights and the restoration of the occupied lands to their legitimate owners for whom international legitimacy admitted their right to restore their usurped rights and lands."