BEIRUT – Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad rejected peace talks with his enemies Sunday in a defiant speech that his opponents described as a renewed declaration of war. Although the speech was billed as the unveiling of a new peace plan, Assad offered no concessions and even appeared to harden many of his positions. He rallied Syrians for “a war to defend the nation” and disparaged the prospect of negotiations. “We do not reject political dialogue ... but with whom should we hold a dialogue? With extremists who don't believe in any language but killing and terrorism?” Assad asked supporters who packed Damascus Opera House for his first speech since June. It was his first public speech to an audience in six months. Since the last, rebels have reached the capital's outskirts. George Sabra, vice president of the opposition National Coalition, said the peace plan Assad put at the heart of his speech did “not even deserve to be called an initiative.” “We should see it rather as a declaration that he will continue his war against the Syrian people,” he said. “The appropriate response is to continue to resist this unacceptable regime and for the Free Syrian Army to continue its work in liberating Syria until every inch of land is free.” The speech was seen by many as a response to UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi, who has been meeting US and Russian officials to try to narrow differences between Washington and Moscow over a peace plan. Brahimi also met Assad in Syria late last month. “Lakhdar Brahimi must feel foolish after that Assad speech, where his diplomacy is dismissed as intolerable intervention,” said Rana Kabbani, a Syrian analyst who supports the opposition. “His remarks are just repetitions of what he's said all along,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said “empty promises of reform fool no one.” In a Twitter message, he added: “Death, violence and oppression engulfing Syria are of his own making.” EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said Brussels would “look carefully if there is anything new in the speech, but we maintain our position that Assad has to step aside and allow for a political transition.” – Agencies
