Islam Times - Most Europeans countries detached from reality in Syria: President Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says the position of most European countries on what is happening in Syria has been detached from reality since the onset of foreign-backed militancy in the Arab country in 2011.

The Syrian leader made the remark during a meeting with a delegation of Italian legislators and politicians headed by Senator Paolo Romani in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Sunday, adding that European countries persisted in their stance despite the major changes that have been witnessed during the past eight years.

Assad further said that instead of working to achieve their own interests, European countries continued to pursue a policy that served the interests of the United States.

The Syrian president said there were a number of positive developments despite the fact that “the countries that fueled the war — mainly Turkey and the US and its pawns — are still continuing their policies by hindering the full elimination of terrorism.”

Assad also urged European politicians and parties “to determine the shape of Europe they aspire to and the role they want it to play.”

Members of the Italian delegation said that the long-held unrealistic narrative promoted by mainstream media outlets about events in Syria had started to gradually lose its effect in the European public opinion.

They said what was actually happening in the Arab country required European governments to adopt a different policy based on reality and not on what was being promoted by the media.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.

The conflict has largely wound down recently.