and in syria, we don't have a majority and a minority. there are syrians only in syria. i say "the homeland" it is owned by all and it is the property of all and it is a trust, a trust even if somewhere misled and even if some defied what is right. syrian patriotism rejects external intervention and stresses that syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity is a red line. syrian patriotism stresses that syrians will stand one rank against descent. rejecting violence and rejecting resorting to arms while calling for reform. homelands are built by their citizens. we, as syrians, have have an tupt to undertake a sincere national dialogue and expedite the pace of reform. so that we can establish a genuine national partnership that preserves the security of the homeland and that of the citizen as the only way out of the crisis. one that responds to the legitimate aspirations of the syrian people without necessarily undermining the homeland. future generation also hold everyone who lost this opportunity accountable. mr. president, the arab people would have very

to protect the civilian inside syria and i mean. i mean like my family friends i mean there are living there and there are regularly reporting that about the violence that is going on there and their response that they are they are facing i think to protect these civilians we have there have to be some sort of. international intervention in there it could be. there it could be no fly zone or it could be. a group let me point out to my viewers that nato is intervention into libya killed lots of civilians so that's what you get when you get outside intervention even if i go back to you in washington i mean is this whole thing it's not about assad it's not about democracy it's not about any of these things it's all about you randi breaking the bridge that iran has through syria to hezbollah and you can even throw in if you want. in gaza this is it's all geo political it has nothing really to do with the interest of the syrian people. well i think that's true the united states policy is usually a rhetorical aid to support democracy but

nicolas sarkozy paid more than one visit to syria the i am then was to decouple syria from the resistance axis and particularly from iran you know by communication by dialogue by incentives when syria made it clear that it would not be decoupled from the resistance actors and from the iranian led axis there now we have this new approach of the in trying to decouple syria by changing its regime by changing its regime in this way so we hope by thing that into consideration i think the solution to syria will come more as part of a broader regional solution for example when the u.s. and iran reach some kind of draw a grand bargain when there was some kind of a agreement reached between the u.s. and iran if that is possible then i think you'll see a whole all in agreement great regarding syria so when we speak about the syrian foyle you can speak of it as a separate issue from the ball broader region i think you have to speak about it as an issue related to iran to hezbollah more broader issues ok despite all the pressures in the intentions from foreign countries we are seeing this this rebell

and the first foreign journalist killed in syria. was mortally wounded by a grenade along with at least eight locals the country's blamed terrorists for the . opposition groups which are blamed for instigating the violence. and with the implications of the ongoing bloodshed in syria still hard to predict we sat down with a professor of middle east politics dr jeremy sold to get a broader view of what's really going on in that region you're watching. thank you jeremy for joining us here on our team as well as call put it when it comes to the middle east there west talks idealistically and acts brutally if it's true if you agree with this what should be done what can be done to prevent syria from falling into these patterns me look at what's been happening in the middle east and the policies the western governments of followed they have always had the the noble motive and we're doing this for this very very good reason but we don't have to be terribly skeptical or cynical to understand that actually behind the noble motive is self-inte

and that meant kind of dealing with iran doing with syria and turkey and syria had a rather complicated relationship over many many years. and so these problems were resolved and they did lead to a very good stable balanced relationship with syria and with iran a particular all sudden policy was was reversed instantly but turkey did a sharp right hand i think the turkish government seemed to think that the syrian government before the protest movement of government money and i think the calculated it's only question of time before the syrian government goes and therefore i think it's more the put to be it want to be riding a wave ok put itself on the crest of the wave the quest of the wave of reform and change in the middle a sin to be seen as the leader of this movement so. make decisions but the fact is that the syrians as i will tell said. this is not libya if anyone interferes with us like across the borders to cause an earthquake in this region so the stakes for everyone including turkey in this situation is very very high but turkey made this decision that i think that as a ball g

syria as i said i would stop there. is not libya that will if any one interferes with us like across our borders to cause an earthquake in this region so the stakes for everyone including turkey in this situation very very high to turkey made this decision that i think that affable go therefore we support the opposition therefore we support the syrian national council of space and istanbul therefore we support free syrian army do you think that was a wrong decision in doing so they have antagonized iran and antagonized iraq. because now iraq has come out quite strongly in support of syria and of course the living is governed by his boss has also been very very critical of turkey so the change in foreign policy has kind of dumped the zero problem and what they've done that is create problems now if if if our side goes ok then it's all worked out but if if if if he doesn't somehow manage to ride this out. well then i suppose it's going to go on for months you know and they'll have to pull back from a position that you had

and that meant kind of dealing with iran doing with syria and turkey and syria had a rather complicated relationship over many many years. and so these problems were resolved and they did lead to very good stable business relationships with syria and with iran in particular and all the sudden the policy was reversed instantly like turkey did a sharp right hand turn i think the turkish government seemed to think that the syrian government for the protest movement got up and running and i think the turkey gobbler calculated that's only a question of time before the syrian government goes and therefore i think it want to put to be it want to be riding the wave ok put on the crystal the way the question of the wave of reform and change in the middle east and to be seen as a leader of this movement. turkey legacy but the fact is that. syria's assad himself said. this is not libya. if anyone interferes with us like across our borders to cause an earthquake in this region so the stakes for everyone including turkey in this situation very very high the turkey made this decision that i think tha

what with the implications of the ongoing bloodshed in syria still hard to predict has been meeting with the professor of middle east politics dr jeremy salt to get a broader view on what's going on in the region that interview next. thank you jeremy for joining us here on r.t. as well as call put it when it comes to the middle east there west talks idealistically and acts brutally if it's true if you agree with this what should be done what can be done to prevent syria from falling into these patterns look at what's been happening in the middle east and the policies the western governments of followed they have always had the noble motive and we're doing this for this very very good reason but we don't have to be terribly skeptical or cynical to understand that actually behind the noble motive is self-interest if we look at what happened in egypt the west backed mubarak right to the very last and there was no longer possible to back him while it was indefensible they dumped him and with him with the president of tunisia and then they moved very very quickly on libya what was happening i

syria is as i would just said. this is not really a. if anyone if each of us like across the board has to cause an earthquake in this region so the stakes for everyone including turkey in this situation is very very high but turkey made his decision that i think that as a blogger therefore we support the opposition therefore we support the syrian national council but the office space in istanbul therefore we support free syrian army do you think that was a wrong decision in doing so they have antagonize iran they've antagonized iraq. because now rockets come out quite strongly in support of syria and of course the lebanese government stomach by his blog has also been very very critical of turkey so the change in foreign policy has kind of that dump a zero problem policy and what they've done act is create problems now if if if assad goes ok then so what us but if if if if if he doesn't somehow manage to ride this out. well. you know. that's what. the last six months. but. they. were talking to taking the lead. box. you know. you know. b

syria and they have. sorry to interrupt here i mean these are i don't understand when we use the term protesters civilians i mean a lot of these people are armed and they're no longer civilians or protesters they're come back now and this is turned into a civil war and some western powers are supporting certain elements within syria taking a side in the civil war would you agree or disagree with that. crosstalk is that later today here on r.t. but for now serbia's hopes to join the e.u. you are one step closer to realisation and you lawmakers have called on the european council to grant to belgrade long anticipated candidate status that ascension session in march but it's cause of zero that remains of the main obstacle to accession and local serbs living in the disputed region say concessions for members. are not helping them as an easy go to never points. the agony it's a checkpoint in northern kosovo may not look like an obvious triumph of peace but here is the same spot just two weeks ago since a summe

syria the boards are still in my body. and people should be allowed to defend themselves where are they on guns in the hands of law abiding decent people are not a problem national rifle association there's a group of basically retired military police love to shoot holes and i'm sorry if you know that the bullet comes out here and this makes it go bang and it what's in front of here is going to die and that's all the training you really really need raise your hand if you know something's been. ok to live well one of the philadelphia is the streets. until about a hopefully we will never have to use the weapons for self defense but we should be prepared for the full class including the teacher as it was. seventeen students. thirty and one of seven who are still alive.

this is not the west telling syria what to do. it is not the permanent members of the security council seeking to impose their view. this is the arab nation's calling on the u.n. security council to help address the crisis in syria and the threat that it poses to the stability of their region. and the secretary general has come here and urged us not to let the syrian people down in their plight. members of the council have often called for arab leadership in the past and that should be respected now, by all nations of the world. can any member of the council today claim to have a better -- be in a better position to judge how best to support peace and stability in syria, than these arab nations themselves? the resolution does not propotion imposing change on syria from outside. it calls for the syrian people to be allowed to make their choices for themselves. it does not call for military action and could not be used to authorize it. indeed, the secretary general has stressed the plan of the arab league specifically does not inclu

eastern syria and so on. whether it's a full blown civil war, it's closer to that in areas of homes where you have different communities, a lot of tension fighting each other. it's not there yet. we're heading in that direction if the regions crack down on the protest movement and the opposition continues. i think that's the reason why you've seen this strong show of force at the security council today. >> let me ask you, because we know up until this point russia has opposed this resolution. secretary of state clinton working with france and great britain to try to craft a resolution moscow would not block. what do we have to do, western nations have to do to get moscow and russia on board? >> i think what you saw today was an effort at diplomatic shaming and perhaps indirectly arm twisting by saying the security council needs to take action by endorsing a plan by a regional body. the head of the arab league emphasized this. there's another way to get the russians to move and doesn't seem to happen this time

syria to settle the crisis there. never insisted return as. a condition of peace. in the syrian opposition has rejected a chance for talks with the country's president instead threatening. with a brutal and bloody end the. plans to expand the u.s. military presence in asia pacific threaten to backfire on the philippines as some in china call for sanctions against the. station more american troops. and this is first exposed as deep in divisions within the union despite most members agreeing to fiscal restraint that critics say is an affront to sovereignty . top stories this hour. international news and comment live from moscow. a fierce battle is unfolding at the u.n. security council where discussion is underway on a new resolution on syria western and arab diplomats and launching a major offensive to overcome russia's strong opposition to a text calling for president assad to go it also doesn't rule out the use of foreign force. is monitoring developments in new york. the reality is that russia has maintained a posit

some voted with syria. the arab league is the reflection of the arab situation. the arab league is our miserable situation. the consensus that looks into the arab situation is going from bad to worse. it's happening in secret now. it's done in the open. has the arab league carried out its decision and managed to fulfill the aspiration of the arabs or did it manage to implant a city of sedation? did it manage to bring back a tree of olives to the palestinians from the israelis? did it manage to unify the sudan? did it manage to stop the war on iraq or manage to feed a somali person? i am talking now because i managed to -- when you are sitting around the arab summits and the people shouting in the arab -- between the arab are talking freely, therefore, to suspend the syrian membership of the arab league or throwing it out, dispelling it will sort of be losing or will arab be the loser? we have been trying for the past toop ma too many months our losses, but we need to ask -- and we need to ask can anybody li

delays how is that affecting the ongoing situation in syria. well the u.n. has been playing a bit of who we call so for it should have been much more more influential actually according to the accidents and the military clashes are actually inside syria no the un is urging is pressuring but is not taking the leading role such as the u.s. or the europeans and even the russians let's see the russians have been dealing with syria independently and dependently and of an as a as a friend as an ally also towards the syrian regime now what we need to have is a certain balance between superpowers here in order to create a certain. a certain angle or a certain dollar for an open dialogue between all parties concerned i do not believe that the arms and the and the military clashes will eventually solve the problems of social economic and political crisis inside syria today for only dialogue and only peaceful movements thank you for your thoughts on a progress appreciated there live from beirut dr mayer salute appreciate it. another arab country libya sti

and syria accuses the u.s. of interfering of the arab league observer mission that's designed to end the violence in the country something washington said last this is not complying with the arab peace plan and it's sending an envoy for talks with any. other developments in egypt and elsewhere in the arab world come into sharper focus next as we talk to middle east politics professor jeremy salt. thank you jeremy for joining us here on r.t. my pleasure as well as call put it when it comes to the middle east there west talks idealistically and acts brutally if it's true if you agree with this what should be done what can be done to prevent syria from falling into these patterns look at what's been happening in the middle east and the policies the western governments of followed since the beginning of this year they have always had the the noble motive we're doing this for this very very good reason but we don't have to be terribly skeptical or cynical to understand that actually behind the noble motive is self-i

and violence in syria claim to much of a foreign journalist from the.

turkey legs but the fact is that the syria as i said. this is not libya if anyone interferes with us like across our borders to cause an earthquake in this region so the stakes for everyone including turkey in this situation a very very high but turkey made this decision that i think that affable go therefore we support the opposition therefore we put we support the syrian national council by dint of space in istanbul therefore we support free syrian army do you think that was a wrong decision in doing so they have antagonized iran they have antagonized iraq . because now iraq has come out quite strongly in support of syria and of course to live in these governments by his book has also been very very critical of turkey so the change in foreign policy has kind of that dump the zero problem policy and what they've done that is create problems now if if if our side goes ok then so we're tough but if if if if he doesn't somehow manage to ride this out. well they're not suppose it's going to be eight on someone's face you know and they'll ha

the looks of the security council will never approved bombing syria i guarantee it . russia's foreign minister rules out use of force against syria to settle the crisis there but says moscow never insisted retaining the assad regime was a condition for peace. and a syrian opposition has rejected the chance for talks with the country's president instead threatening the sound family with a brutal and bloody and live analysis of what's happening in syria the moment very shortly. and this is first summit exposes the deepening divisions within the union despite most members agreeing to fiscal restrictions that critics say is on the front. of democracy our top stories this hour. international news and comment live from moscow this is. a fierce battle is unfolding at the u.n. security council where discussion is underway on a new resolution on syria western and arab diplomats are launching a major offensive to overcome russia's strong opposition to a text calling for president assad to go the draft motion also doesn't rule out the use of foreign force. is monitoring developm

frontline's "syria undercover" is available on dvd.o order, visit shoppbs.org or call 1-800-play-pbs. frontline is also available for download on itunes. turn to pbs... for stories that define the american experience. it was wild and out of control the flash apparently official revealing our strengths... it shall be called the hoover dam our struggles. he said it is madness beyond measure putting you into history... and taking you to the moment. we have a liftoff these are our stories. it's felt experience our american experience. only on pbs.

how is that affecting the people in syria? today, we can bring you a report from one of the opposition strongholds. it includes images from the working-class district, which has seen some very heavy fighting. the footage was shot by opposition activists in december and then smuggled out of the country. it offers a glimpse of life in a city that has paid a very heavy price for opposing the government. >> parts of the city resemble a war zone. here, there is barely a house left unscathed. local residents say syrian government troops have repeatedly targeted the area. militiamen and government soldiers have taken up their positions in the streets. local governments say they shoot indiscriminately at houses. >> five of my comrades were killed, says this man. "when we tried to collect the bodies, snipers started shooting at us. then one of my relatives was killed. he was driving a car carrying two of the wounded. the car was hit by tank fire as it rounded the bend. the car turned into an inferno while the people were still in it."

so this is your the council will never approve bombing syria i guarantee it russia's foreign minister rules out use of force against syria to settle the crisis there but says moscow never insisted retaining the current assad regime was a condition for peace. and the syrian opposition has rejected a chance for talks with the country's president instead threatening the assad family with a brutal and bloody live reaction on syria shortly here on r.t. . plans to expand the u.s. military presence in asia pacific threaten to backfire on the philippines as some in china call for sanctions against the island nation for offering to station more american troops. and this year's first e.u. summit exposes deepening divisions within the union despite most members agreeing to the fiscal restrictions that critics say is an affront to sovereignty and democracy our top stories this hour. international news and comment live from moscow this is. a fierce battle is unfolding at the u.n. security council where discussion is underway on a new resolution on syria western and arab diplomats are launching a m

position on syria depend on the arab league's missions observations in a country. well first of all the arab league is hardly an objective observer they have been serving the western interest particularly the gulf cooperation council states saudi arabia qatar i mean if they're going to do that first let's send an arab league delegation into bach reign where the saudis and qataris have cropped up the regime against a genuine populist uprising and you know let them do a report there that talks about. removing say the u.s. navy from the middle of that kingdom let's see saudi arabia and qatar be examined by the arab league or by some other international observers for their human rights records and let's have a discussion of the entire area perhaps even some could come visit the united states stop off in kuantan tomorrow and look at some of the things that have happened in the congress recently with respect to civil rights human rights indefinite detention and now they're looking at stripping people of their citizenship ear on a declaration by the president you know the

damascus syria. could start paying iran to end gold for its crude oil purchases that is according to israeli website file the move as an attempt to work around the same actions imposed by the west over to iran's nuclear program effectively bypassing the freeze on iran central bank assets and as priya sridhar reports china could follow. india actually has already bought iranian oil using gold instead of u.s. dollars and this is extremely significant because every year india actually spends twelve billion u.s. dollars on iranian oil and now actually beijing is also saying that it might want to jump on board with the new delhi and also look into some sort of agreement with iran to continue to get oil new delhi and beijing actually account for forty percent of the imports of iranian oil the e.u. only counts for twenty percent obviously we've been talking about all week about this oil embargo that the e.u. announced on monday that they're hoping to roll out and put into place by chill live first and obvio

jealous of his economics if we give him enough in the way that the syria. other syria. you can make it a lot of people in syria. out of solidarity with their arab brothers the owners of the shop have even put on display the syrian rebels tricolor but they're very firm on where the revolutionary support should be and we don't want syria and its soldiers we have. and our people subject syria these are just wrong if this subject we have to have enough but i think yeah we want to leave. in less than three months libyan rebels have gone from being celebrated as liberators to being called occupiers tripoli residents rally almost every week calling on the armed militia to leave and for some of these young man who are on adrenaline and willing to part with their rifles syria seems like the next logical destination. your were all ready to join the syrian revolution and with the help of allah we will make sure that what happened in libya will repeat itself in syria. over the portraits of shaky bar i now ubiquitous on the streets of tripoli be some rebels even styling themselves t

security council where discussion is underway on a new resolution on syria western and arab diplomats are launching a major offensive to overcome russia's strong opposition to a text calling for president assad to go it also doesn't rule out the use of foreign force what is more important is monitoring developments in new york for us marina what exactly are the sides not seeing eye to eye on. well bill the reality is that russia has maintained a position on syria in which it believes that both sides of the conflict need to come together in dialogue and russia has said that it will not support any use of force into syria on syria now according to the arab european draft resolution that's now being presented to the u.n. security council it calls for syrian president bashar al assad to step aside hand over his powers to his deputy while and national unity government is formed but most importantly it in at the end of this resolution is is a paragraph that says that the security council can decide to review syria's implementation of the resolution within fifteen days and if the event in th

pushing for stability through dialogue in syria calling for no military action against sovereign states russia's top diplomat also criticize western sanctions against iran as he faced media questions on the issues wasco was busy with in the global arena and twenty seven well arty's peter all of us at the foreign ministry for us now. the situation in syria dominated the issues posed to the foreign minister the washers keeping efforts to bring peace to the troubled country very much alive is until. well that's right so he allowed for all of really reiterating what's been russia's stance on the ongoing situation in syria from the beginning saying that well both the governments the assad government and the opposition have to bear responsibility for the violence that is still going on a little eastern nation and that they need to come together and talk to try and find a peaceful solution that they're not going to they shouldn't try and find a solution to violence to the church be through dialogue now what was new. speaking about proposed arab league talks that would take place in cairo betwe