al-Assad: "Despite the ethnic diversity within each nation, the social fabric of the region by and large is one."

al-Assad: "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."

al-Assad: "I am Syrian, I was made in Syria, I have to live in Syria and die in Syria."

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."

al-Assad: "Worry does not mean fear, but readiness for the confrontation."

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."

al-Assad: "You cannot reform your society or institution without opening your mind."

al-Assad: "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."

al-Assad: "It is natural that we should always expect an Israeli attack, even when it does not threaten."

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."

al-Assad: "The logical thing is to implement the Arab Defense Agreement."