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Assad expresses skepticism over Trump's ability to fulfill anti-terror promises

Xinhua, November 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in his interview published on Tuesday that his administration is still skeptic about the ability of the U.S. president-elect, Donald Trump, to fulfill his previous promises on the need to fight terrorism in cooperation with Russia.

In an interview with Portugal's RTP national TV, Assad said he is being extremely cautious about judging Trump's stance, "particularly that he hasn't occupied any political position before, and thus we cannot say anything about what is he going to do."

Assad's skepticism emanates from the fact that Trump is not alone in control of the United States.

"What about the dominant forces within the U.S. administration? What about the mainstream media against him? How would he handle it? And thus we remain skeptic on whether he can fulfill his promises or not," Assad said.

Before winning the elections, Trump expressed willingness to cooperate with Russia in the war on terrorism, and thus a possible cooperation with the government of Assad.

"When you think about it, wouldn't it be nice if we got along with Russia?" Trump said in July. "Wouldn't it be nice if we got together with Russia and knocked the hell out of IS (the Islamic State)?" he added.

In the interview, Assad said that if Trump is going to fight the terrorists, then "we will naturally be allies to him alongside the Russians, Iranians and several other countries that want to defeat the terrorists."

Assad stressed that he would cooperate with the Americans in the war against the terrorist groups, "because we have suffered more than any other place in the world from terrorism... If they have the will and ability, then of course."

He said his government is ready to cooperate with any party in the world "unconditionally" in the war on terror.

Still, Assad made it clear that any international effort against the terrorists without the coordination with the Syrian government, will be considered illegal and "if it's illegal, we will not accept or acknowledge it." Endit