Syrian FM defends Assad's political initiative as "integral " (2)

The speech was rejected by the opposition, which said Assad had sidestepped a point the opposition deemed crucial, which was to relinquish power. Also, the United States and its allies dismissed the speech as "disconnected from reality."

Al-Moallem, meanwhile, said Assad's vision comes to meet the inspirations of the Syrian people, adding that it was build on national basis, namely rejecting the foreign intervention in Syria and renouncing terrorism.

He said the Syrian government has started contacting several parties to prepare for the national inclusive dialogue and stressed that weapons are not the way to achieve change, adding that the basis of national dialogue is halting the violence and rejecting foreign intervention.

He likened Assad to a ship captain, and questioned: what would happen to the ship if its captain abandoned it with the first high wave?

No one owns the decision of legitimacy but the Syrian people, he added.

Al-Moallem made it clear that the United States and some Syrian opposition insistence on their calls for ousting the president as a condition for dialogue "means that they want the continuation of violence."