JPG

In a message addressed to Muslims for the end of Ramadan, the Catholic patriarch says, “it is not too late” for Assad to interact with the young people of the opposition. He criticises Arab government for being deaf to “the pain and aspirations of their peoples” and the United States and Europe for trying to impose their will.

New law to provide freedom of information, details for foreign journalists and permits to create new media still unclear. Possible fines of up to 21 thousand U.S. dollars for "defamation". Russia and Iran among those critical of Damascus.

The Syrian president reaffirms the existence of a "foreign conspiracy" in the country and receives the support of Muslim religious leaders. The attempts to develop an opposition "national council" in Istanbul has collapsed over suspicions concerning the Muslim Brotherhood. Islamists, nationalists and liberals among opposition. And there are also the young unemployed, who do not identify with any of them.

Syria’s president claims the backing of the Syrian people and criticises Barack Obama and Europe. He announces changes: local elections in December, parliamentary elections in February 2012, a new law on freedom of expression by the end of Ramadan and changes to the constitution to allow for a multiparty system. Today UN Human Rights Commission held an emergency meeting to discuss Syria. A UN humanitarian mission also arrived in Damascus today.

General Daud Rajhi is greek-orthodox. The Christian world has differing views of the president’s choice. Meanwhile, violence continues in the country. Assad reiterates after talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu: the security forces "will not cease to pursue terrorist groups."

The nightmare is that Syria will become another Iraq, which explains why many Christian leaders seem to support the regime of President Assad. Benedict XVI's call for dialogue and renunciation of violence by both sides was not reported in Syrian media.