By Abdullah Raja; Translation by Dani Murad
In an exclusive interview with Zaman Alwasl , the Defense Minister for Syria's interim government, Asaad Mustafa, said that his days as a defense minister was no doubt the most difficult part of his life, pointing out that he resigned because of his inability to provide rebels with the minimum necessary needs , however he still serves the revolution although not from a direct formal position.
Mustafa clarified that in many days in Turkey he was on the verge of exploding, knowing that he and FSA’s faithful leadership can do something for the revolution, but were prohibited to do so, due to the obstacles placed intentionally or unintentionally which hindered revolution’s triumph so far, and amid regional and international complications that surrounded the Syrian revolution, yet despite this difficult reality Syrians have insisted on making unprecedented sacrifices in the face of the most murderous and hatred regime in history.
Mustafa added that working against the Syrian regime was for him unmatched joy, especially when he visited Syria and met rebels on the front lines and in the neighboring countries of Syria, and that the difficulties he encountered came from those who were supposed to be helpful partners in the face of the criminal regime.
Moreover, he criticized opposition’s entire performance, saying that it is not up to the greatness of the Syrian revolution, pointing out that the revolution’s issues take the least of oppositions’ debates.
Mustafa added:” I’m tormented, always criticizing and blaming myself whenever I participate in oppositions’ meetings and their conversations that revolve mostly around issues that has nothing to do with the revolution, and only centered on the distribution of positions, privileges, and how to exploit regional and international support to achieve their ambitions, while Syrians are dying and being killed daily in Syria.
According to him, toppling Assad’s regime has taken a long time, in large part because of the opposition itself, since it hasn’t provided the revolution with what it deserves and was unable to present the reality of it, despite being the greatest and most courageous revolution in the world and for centuries, beginning with the French Revolution and finishing with Arab spring revolutions.
Syrians have sparked a great revolution, yet it lacked an organized, leading and Institutional work that Integrates political work with military action in addition to relief and media work in a comprehensive national framework. He added
In terms of his relationship with head of the coalition "Ahmed Jarba", Mustafa confirmed that he believes in the importance of supporting the leadership of the coalition, and was clear with brother Jarba on achieving all steps necessary to serve the revolution.
Furthermore, Mustafa said that he was also frank with his brothers in the coalition and opposition in all of his meetings, and has been transparent in exposing all the errors and presenting his vision whether they agree with it or not.
In addition to that, he confirmed that he left the government with no hard feelings, revenge or feud with any of the coalition’s members or the government, but said that there were only differences in opinion on how work should be conducted in many key issues, and that he decided to resign on the day rebels got out of Homs after a siege of more than seven hundred days without any serious work from the opposition to break Homs or Ghutta’s sieges, which is the same repeated scenario on Aleppo.
Mustafa also revealed some information regarding some Arab meetings that took place, pointing out that Prince Saud al-Faisal was one of the most supportive figures to the Syrian revolution and was urging the opposition to unify their vision, positions and efforts to achieve the objectives of the Syrian people, which was evident in coalition’s last meeting in Jeddah, where results started to materialize on the ground.
According to Mustafa, coordination and cooperation between Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey constitutes an essential pillar in supporting the Syrian revolution and achieving its goals, and that the strategic relationship between Saudi Arabia and Turkey in particular, constitutes a decisive factor in the victory of the revolution and stabilizes and achieves a strategic balance, which provides security for all peoples and nations of the Middle East in general.
Lastly, Mustafa confirmed his absolute faith in the inevitable victory of the Syrian Revolution with God's help and rebels’ determination which faces the disintegration, weakness and cowardice of regime’s mercenaries and that victory depends mainly on providing the minimum of weapons that would enable rebels to face regime’s deadly weapons provided by regime’s allies and partners in crime.
And in a related context, Zaman Alwasl has obtained a formal letter confirming the nomination of The Supreme Military Council of the FSA (SMC) to brigade Abdulaziz al Shalal for the post of defense minister in replacement of Mustafa.
And according to the same letter, the Council ratified in its meeting last Tuesday the nomination of Brigadier Awad Ahmed Ali and Brigadier General Adib Ahmad Al Shlaf , head of Aleppo police, to the post of interior minister.
After that, nominations were sent to coalition’s general committee for revolutionary forces and opposition to conduct the duly necessary procedures.
And previously, Zaman Alwasl has referred to the nomination of "the thirtieth Council" to Brigade Abdulaziz Shalal to take the defense portfolio in the interim Syrian government as a successor to former Minister Asaad Mustafa.
It’s noteworthy that Al shalal was the commander of military police in Syria before he defected from Assad’s regime in 2012.
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