Dr Refaat Al-Assad Syrian Vice-President confirmed in an interview with the Associated Press confirmed that he is going back to his home nation Syria. There he will lead a peaceful movement for democratic change and economic prosperity. Arab and American Media extensively quoted Dr Al-Assad's interview.
Dr Refaat Al-Assad stressed in the interview (that lasted for more than four hours in his office in Marbella) that his feelings towards Bashar Al-Assad is that of an uncle who loves his nephew. However, he does not agree with the manner in which Bashar Al-Assad is running the country, because Bashar left Syria without real leadership, and no one knows who is really ruling the country.
Dr Refaat Al-Assad also stated that Syria is facing imminent internal and external dangers, and lacks stability.
Answering a question about the Syrian-American relationship Dr Refaat Al-Assad said that "Syria has the right to defend its national interests and so does the United States. The American- Syrian disagreement can be solved through a regional agreement."
About the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, Dr Refaat Al-Assad stressed that he always opposed Syrian intervention in Lebanon. Moreover, in an answer to question about peace with Israel, Dr Refaat Al-Assad said that "every nation seeks peace including Syria, but at the moment the priority is achieving political and economical reform."
As for what Dr Refaat Al-Assad intends to do upon his return he said that he will join his fellow citizens who suffer from grave poverty, corruption, and political and security chaos. He feels Syrians are vulnerable in the face of these pressures and may fall victim to Islamic extremism.
Dr Refaat Al-Assad added that he will give the Syrian regime an opportunity to: reform the constitution, organize free and fair elections, allow pluralism, respect press freedom, respect human rights, consolidate women rights, fight corruption, reform the judicial system and end all foreign interference in Syria's internal affairs. Dr Refaat Al-Assad made it clear that if the Syrian government does not carry the reforms he will call the people overthrow the regime. Dr Refaat Al-Assad said that he realizes the dangers that will face him when he returns to Syria, and that he is prepared to sacrifice his life for the sake of the nation that he loves so much and can not live far from. He also stressed that he is not bothered by the notion that he might be assassinated, because they have tried this many times before.
About what happened in Hamma, Dr Refaat Al-Assad said that he has never been to Hamma in his life and that he was a member in the national leadership of the Baath party and head of higher education office at the time of the Hamma incident. He also said that he had no security responsibilities and was concerned with public affairs at the time.
Dr Refaat Al-Assad also said that he always warned the Syrian leadership about the danger the Muslim Brotherhood was posing at the time. As for the people who were killed then Dr Refaat Al-Assad said that he doesn't know their number, but said that he knows that most of them died in the hands of Muslim Brotherhood members and that the security forces only shot people in self defense.