Bashar Assad Quotes & Sayings

Freedom and democracy are nothing but instruments, just like stability. The goal is called progress and growth. Anyone who puts freedom ahead of stability is hurting growth. — Bashar Al-Assad

IS [Islamic State] has played a major role in helping Bashar al-Assad to reposition Syria on the international scene. Now, it is almost impossible to come up with a solution that would exclude him. The political game appears to be very cynical indeed. — Tariq Ramadan

We are facing an external attack against us, which is more dangerous than any other previous wars ... We are dealing with those who are extremists, who only know the language of killing and criminality. — Bashar Al-Assad

We believe that Lebanon has been the first real experience for all the Arabs. — Bashar Al-Assad

The problem with the West is that they start with political reform going towards democracy. If you want to go towards democracy, the first thing is to involve the people in decision making, not to make it. — Bashar Al-Assad

I cannot afford to make mistakes. — Bashar Al-Assad

You cannot have democracy without the institutions. You cannot have a democracy that is built on the moods of self-interested people. — Bashar Al-Assad

If you are going to be a mediator or arbitrator you have to be in the middle between the two sides; you cannot take sides only with one party. — Bashar Al-Assad

As far as we are concerned, we Syria have not changed. — Bashar Al-Assad

I don't believe in war, I believe in the principle of deterrence. — Bashar Al-Assad

Bashar Assad has been so brutal toward the Sunni within Syria that he created the space that led to the people of Syria themselves to stand up and try to overthrow him. That led to the chaos which allowed ISIS to come in and take advantage of that situation and grow more powerful. — Marco Rubio

If you want to be transparent with your people, do not do anything cosmetic, whether to deceive your people or to get some applaud from the West. — Bashar Al-Assad

It would be a mistake to link anything that Israel does to a certain circumstance. And it is a mistake to feel comfortable in any circumstance just because Israel did not act on it. — Bashar Al-Assad

Terrorism is a state of mind that on the one hand has to do with ignorance and, on the other hand, can be attributed to a feeling of desperation over the political situation, which at some point takes the form of revenge. — Bashar Al-Assad

Politics is about realities, not logic. — Bashar Al-Assad

Despite the ethnic diversity within each nation, the social fabric of the region by and large is one. — Bashar Al-Assad

To me, what I've always said is that the president [Barack Obama] has set up an awful situation through his deal with Iran, because what his deal with Iran has done is empower them and enrich them. And that's the way ISIS has been created and formed here. ISIS is created and formed because of the abuse that [Bashar] Assad and his Iranian sponsors have rained down on the Sunnis in Syria. — Chris Christie

How can you be afraid to feel? Isn't fear a feeling? If you're feeling fear, you've felt one of the most negative emotions there is to feel. Everything else should be a piece of cake. Feel good, feel happy, feel healthy, feel loved, feel abundant, feel creative, feel compassionate, feel knowledgeable, feel powerful. — Bashar Al-Assad

Does anyone believe that Kofi Annan scares Bashar Assad? — Elliott Abrams

Russia went into Syria basically to support President Bashar al-Assad. And the Western allies have said Russia's really done very little against ISIS. For his part, Putin said Russia's open to stronger cooperation, and he supports Frances's effort to build a strong anti-terror coalition. — Corey Flintoff

Russia is emerging as an essential diplomatic and security partner for the U.S. in Syria, despite the Obama administration's opposition to Moscow's support for President Bashar al-Assad. — David Ignatius

Every chance at destabilizing [Bashar] Assad ... the bombing campaign causes a flood of refugees into Jordan, there's already half a million in Jordan. I think a bombing campaign - I think it's hard to argue that a U.S. bombing campaign is going to cause less refugees. And I think it causes more refugees and more of a humanitarian disaster. I think it causes, or allows, the risk of Israel being attacked with a gas attack to go up, if we attack Assad. So there's all kinds of bad things. — Rand Paul

Trust that the thing in life that excites you the most comes complete with all the tools necessary to support you in the doing of that thing. It is automatic; it is built in. All you need to do is act on the opportunities that doing that situation brings to you. — Bashar Al-Assad

Bashar Assad has said many things. We will see in the near term whether he is serious about a political process. — Adel Al-Jubeir

The first thing you have to learn is how to conduct dialogue and how to make it productive. — Bashar Al-Assad

It is even more so when it comes to Iraq, which is a large Arab country with scientific, material, and human resources and is able to accomplish, at the least, what Lebanon accomplished, and more. — Bashar Al-Assad

A majority of the Syrian people believe in the regime and support Bashar al-Assad. — Hassan Nasrallah

Is there an equality of power between America and Iraq? Definitely not; however, the Iraqi people are standing fast and are defending their land courageously. — Bashar Al-Assad

All dignified people in the world, whether Arabs or Muslims or others with dignity, are very proud of the speech made by president Bashar al-Assad a few days ago here in Damascus. For me he is the last Arab ruler, and Syria is the last Arab country. It is the fortress of the remaining dignity of the Arabs, and that's why I'm proud to be here. — George Galloway

It is not my democracy as a person; it is our democracy as a society. — Bashar Al-Assad

The place where the interests of all parties come together is the international community, along with its resolutions. — Bashar Al-Assad

It's not exactly fair to make a mistake yourself and then start blaming others for it. — Bashar Al-Assad

Bashar Assad is one of the main reasons why ISIS even exists to begin with. Assad is a puppet of Iran. — Marco Rubio

We have more difficult circumstances than most of the Arab countries but in spite of that Syria is stable. Why? Because you have to be very closely linked to the beliefs of the people. This is the core issue. — Bashar Al-Assad

I don't think anyone can predict what the short term will look like. In the long term, it will be a Syria without Bashar Assad. The longer it takes, the worse it will get. — Adel Al-Jubeir

You in Lebanon, your power is no match to Israel. Israel, militarily, is more powerful than you and maybe it is more powerful than all the Arab countries, or most of them. — Bashar Al-Assad

We need to learn from history. These same leaders - [Barack] Obama,[Hillary] Clinton, and far too many Republicans - want to topple [Bashar] Assad. Assad is a bad man. Gadhafi was a bad man. Mubarak had a terrible human rights record. But they were assisting us - at least [Muammar]Gadhafi and[Hosni] Mubarak - in fighting radical Islamic terrorists. — Ted Cruz

In Great Britain, an author published a book in which he claimed that Jesus Christ had children. Such statements don't trigger civil unrest and bloodshed in Europe. But write similar statements about Islam in Syria and you might see bloody uprisings. — Bashar Al-Assad

Circumstances don't matter, only my state of being matters. What state of being are you choosing? — Bashar Al-Assad

As soon as the legitimate Lebanese government is convinced that the conditions have ripened and that Lebanon is able to maintain stability on its own ... Then, the Syrian forces will return to their homeland. — Bashar Al-Assad

I'll tell you whose view on [Bashar] Assad is the same as mine. It's Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said Israel doesn't have a dog in that fight because Assad is a puppet of Iran, a Shia radical Islamic terrorist, but at the same time, Prime Minister Netanyahu doesn't want to see Syria governed by ISIS. — Ted Cruz

In August 2012, the international community should have been far more determined in dealing with the Bashar Assad regime. — Francois Hollande

When we analyze this war in a materialistic way and ask when is it going to end and who will be the winner and the loser, it means that we do not see the endgame. — Bashar Al-Assad

History teaches us that nobody can prevent a resistance group from arming when it has the support of the people. — Bashar Al-Assad

Since its very inception, Israel has been a threat. — Bashar Al-Assad

Its not about learning to trust. Its about learning what it is I place my trust in and why. Its like learning to see the forest for the trees. You cannot see the forest for the trees unless you are outside the forest. — Bashar Al-Assad

[The Jews] tried to kill the principles of all religions with the same mentality in which they betrayed Jesus Christ and the same way they tried to betray and kill the Prophet Muhammad. — Bashar Al-Assad

I think we can all agree [Bashar] Assad is a bad and evil actor, but I'm not so sure that we want the Islamic rebels to be in charge of Syria either. — Rand Paul

Lebanon was under Israeli occupation, up to its capital, but we did not consider that a disaster. Why? Because it was very clear that there are ways to resist. — Bashar Al-Assad

Many people do not understand the difference between peace and a peace treaty. If you want to have real peace with normal relations between people, you need to have comprehensive peace. — Bashar Al-Assad

Those who arrived on America's tanks are not credible in Iraq. — Bashar Al-Assad

Today, the Iraqi citizen sees that America is coming and wants to occupy his country and kill him, and he is willing to experience for himself what happened in Palestine. — Bashar Al-Assad

We could have made peace with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad a long time ago. It didn't happen, because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't want to give up the Golan (Heights). — Tom Segev

It's a dangerous thing when someone gets up in the morning and has nothing to eat. — Bashar Al-Assad

Still people want to topple [Bashar] Assad. And then there will be chaos, and I think ISIS will then be in charge of Syria. — Rand Paul

But the issue has to do with land, which is our land. — Bashar Al-Assad

America is interested in re-arranging the region as it sees fit. — Bashar Al-Assad

There is a political process which we are trying to achieve through what is called the Vienna Group. That involves the establishment of a governing council, which is to take power away from Bashar Assad, to write a constitution and to open the way for elections. It is important that Bashar leaves in the beginning, not at the end of the process. This will make the transition happen with less death and destruction. — Adel Al-Jubeir

Every country has criminals who have to be fought. They can exist anywhere, including the government or the army - or outside the government and army. — Bashar Al-Assad

Personally, I do not support the concept of suicide bombings. This is not part of our [syrian] culture. But whether you condemn them or not, suicide bombings are a reality. — Bashar Al-Assad

I am president, I don't own the country so they are not my forces. — Bashar Al-Assad

It is always an eerie experience to sit among Bashar al-Assad's soldiers. — Robert Fisk

[Vladimir] Putin wants to keep [Bashar] Assad in power and expand his own military base in Syria, whatever the cost. I even believe he has an interest in more and more people fleeing the country. The flow of refugees improves his negotiating position toward the West, including the German chancellor. — Garry Kasparov

America must listen. It must listen to the interests of others. But the US government has no interest in similarities, no matter how obvious. — Bashar Al-Assad

But for us, in Syria, we have principles. We'll do anything to prevent the region from another crazy war. It's not only Syria. Because it will start in Syria ... — Bashar Al-Assad

I still think a reasonable question is, would we be better off with [Muamar] Gadhafi and Bashar al-Assad still in there and Mubarak still there and Saddam [Hussein] there than the crap we have got looking at us now? — Chris Matthews

Well, I think the U.S. has been careful not to go too far in attacking Iran's allies, in particular in attacking Hezbollah forces in Syria, which have been propping up the regime of Bashar al-Assad. — David Ignatius

You cannot reform your society or institution without opening your mind. — Bashar Al-Assad

I think [Bashar] Assad is a bad guy, a very bad guy, all right? — Donald Trump

Senator Kerry was fooled by Bashar al-Assad. — Elliott Abrams

Is Russia worried that defeating Daesh will open the door for defeating Bashar Assad? That would be a different story. But I don't think World War III is going to happen in Syria. — Adel Al-Jubeir

You have to be very closely linked to the beliefs of the people. This is the core issue. When there is divergence between your policy and the people's beliefs and interests, you will have this vacuum that creates disturbance. — Bashar Al-Assad

None of us and none of the Arabs trust Israel. — Bashar Al-Assad

Let's not forget: This all began when you had eight- and nine-year-old children writing graffiti on walls. Their parents were told: "You will never see them again. If you want to have children, go to your wife and make new ones." [Bashar] Assad's people rebelled. He crushed them brutally. But his military could not protect him. So he asked the Iranians to come in and help. — Adel Al-Jubeir

Israel ranks her priorities in the following way: security, land, and water. — Bashar Al-Assad

The one way, possibly, out of this is for [Bashar] Assad to abdicate and plead, perhaps to Russia or somewhere else. Would save another wave of civilian casualties if we could get him to abdicate. — Rand Paul

[Enemies of Syria] are the enemies of the people and the enemies of God. And the enemies of God will go to hell. — Bashar Al-Assad

Syria is lucky to have Bashar al-Assad as her President. — George Galloway

This is the Middle East, where every week you have something new; so whatever you talk about this week will not be valuable next week. — Bashar Al-Assad

When our interests matched, the Americans have been good to us, and when the interests differed, they wanted us to mold ourselves to them, which we refused. — Bashar Al-Assad

The fact that there are people who criticize me doesn't mean that people hate me. — Bashar Al-Assad

Worry does not mean fear, but readiness for the confrontation. — Bashar Al-Assad

There is no such things as "Islamic terrorism," because terrorism differs from Islam. There's just terrorism, not Islamic terrorism. But the term "Islamic terrorism" has become widespread. — Bashar Al-Assad

We have Islamic rebels [in Syria] who've been eating the hearts or organs of their enemies. We have priests that have been killed. We have Christian villages that have been razed by Islamic rebels. We have Islamic rebels who say they don't recognize Israel and would just as soon attack Israel as [Bashar] Assad. So really, I see no clear-cut American interest, and I'm afraid that sometimes things unravel, and the situation could become less stable and not more stable. — Rand Paul

I don't think that the United States has the bulk of the responsibility. I really put that on [Bashar] Assad and on the Iraqis and on the region itself. — Hillary Clinton

The Israeli lobby has clout in the U.S., which means that re-arranging the region and controlling its resources one way or another, will serve Israel through its control over the American administration. — Bashar Al-Assad

While starving refugees in Homs were providing target practice for government snipers, Bashar al-Assad's strongest international backer was in Sochi, at the Iceberg Skating Palace, visibly moved, smiling with deep satisfaction, as the Russians beautifully glided and leaped their way to the gold medal in the team event. — George Packer

Israeli interests are not necessarily in harmony with the American interests. — Bashar Al-Assad

Armies are not only for offensives. — Bashar Al-Assad

We have always said there are two ways to resolve Syria, and both will end up with the same result: a Syria without Bashar Assad. — Adel Al-Jubeir

In Syria, if [Bashar al-] Assad had just been a statesman and handed over the reigns in time, Syria would not be heading down the nightmare that it is today. — Richard Branson

Turkey wants to see Bashar al-Assad go and wants to kind of expand its sphere of influence into Turkey so its Ottoman glory or Ottoman past are once again project into the Syrian provinces. That's kind of what Turkey's vision is. — Richard Engel

Look at the results of regime change in Iraq. You can't possibly claim that it was successful. — Bashar Al-Assad

They want to criticize you, let them criticize and do not worry. Just be transparent with your people and tell them this is the reality. — Bashar Al-Assad

No doubt that the U.S. is a super-power capable of conquering a relatively small country, but is it able to control it? — Bashar Al-Assad

Hillary Clinton failed to mention that her agreement with a precipitous withdrawal and declaration of victory in 2011 helped left swaths of territory and weaponry from ISIS. She failed to mention that she described Bashar al-Assad as a positive reformer and opened an American embassy. She failed to mention a complete failure strategy in Libya, which now is enabling ISIS to move into Libya. — Carly Fiorina

Hamas will not disappear. Hamas will not raise the white flag. Hamas has the trust of the people, and anyone who wishes to destroy it must destroy an entire people. — Bashar Al-Assad

I am not a puppet. I was not made by the West to go to the West or to any other country. — Bashar Al-Assad

If you ask Americans whether they've been successful at sealing the border with Mexico, they'll tell you that it's a very difficult proposition. — Bashar Al-Assad

Bashar al-Assad and those who still stand by him are now responsible for the deaths of more than 20,000 in Syria. — Susan Rice