Assad's adviser describes events in Syria as "regional war"
MOSCOW. June 19 (Interfax) - The ongoing events in Syria are a regional war involving a number of Arab and non-Arab countries, says Bouthaina Shaaban, a political and media adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"War is being waged against Syria through arms supplies and the financing of the opposition, and this also involves an informational war," Shaaban said at a meeting with researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Oriental Studies in Moscow on Tuesday.
"This war has long become regional, involving a number of Arab and non-Arab countries," she added.
Asked how she believes the situation is likely to develop in Syria, Shaaban acknowledged that "it is difficult to make such a judgment."
"There is a desire to eliminate Syria regardless of reforms underway in the country," Shaaban said.
A draft new constitution was drawn up and adopted in just six months, while Egypt has still not adopted a new constitution, and Turkey has been discussing a new constitution for four years, she said.
Asked whether she believes the Syrian leadership started reforms too late, Shaaban acknowledged that not everything has been normal in Syria, but what the country needs above all is stability for gradual transformations.
She accused certain forces of the desire to ruin the ruling secular regime in Syria and its strong army.
What is taking place in Syria does not meet interests of either Syrians, or Arabs, or Israelis, she said.
Asked whether Syria would like to see Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit, Shaaban replied, "We would welcome such a visit very much."